Maier Michael Atalanta Fugiens

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ATALANTA FUGIENS
THE FLEEING ATALANTA
— or —
NEW CHYMICAL EMBLEMS OF THE SECRETS OF NATURE
— by —
MICHAEL MAIER
Count of the Imperial Conſiſtory
M.D., Eq. ex. &c
OPPENHEIM
Printed by Hieronymous Gallerus
Publiſhed by1 Johann Theodor de Bry
1618
*** ***** ***
Michael Maier’s alchemical emblem book Atalanta fugiens was first published in Latin in
1617. It was a most amazing book as it incorporated 50 emblems with epigrams and a
discourse, but extended the concept of an emblem book by incorporating 50 pieces of
music the ‘fugues’ or canons. In this sense it was an early example of multimedia.
An English translation exists in the British Library MS. Sloane 3645. Clay Holden was
kind enough to allow his transcription of emblems 1 to 10, and Hereward Tilton has
transcribed 11 to 34, and Peter Branwin has completed the work by transcribing 35 to 50.
Peter Branwin is currently working on a new translation of the discourses from the
original Latin. [There is another English translation in Mellon MS. 48 at Yale in the USA.]
— Adam Maclean.
The text following is for the most part taken from the transcriptions mentioned above, as
posted on the Alchemy website; these gave Latin and English mottoes for emblems 1-10,
English mottoes only for 11-46 and none at all for the last four. The Latin epigrams were
only given for 1-10, of which only the first was translated. All the omitted Latin mottoes
and epigrams have been restored from the facsimiles published by H. M. de Jong in her
Michael Maier’s Atalanta Fugiens: Sources of an Alchemical Book of Emblems (Leiden: E.J.
Brill, 1969). I have interpolated de Jong’s translation of the mottoes for 47, 49 and 50 and
given my own translation of 48. I have not yet begun to undertake a translation of
epigrams 2-50.
In the original print edition, each emblem was set out in a consistent format: on a left
page, the Latin motto, the image below it, the six-line epigram below that; on the facing
right page, a German translation of the motto, the musical score (in each case a 3-part
1
lit. “at the expense of”
setting of the Latin verse) and a free German translation of the epigram; on the two
pages following, the discourse. The present e-text omits the music scores (the only
copies I have are comparatively low-resolution images from a French translation) and
most of the prefatory matter (which as far as I can tell comprised a dedicatory epistle
and a general preface, totalling about 8 quarto pages).
De Jong’s edition of Atalanta includes facsimiles (scaled down from quarto to octavo) of
the 50 figures with accompanying Latin motto and epigram, translations of the mottoes
and epigrams and a summary (i.e. a fairly free and possibly slightly abridged translation,
with a few parenthetical glosses) of each discourse. The musical scores, dedication and
introduction are omitted; the frontispiece plate and portrait of the author are retained. A
translation of the verse preface (“Epigramma Authoris”) appears in the commentary on
the frontispiece.
The emblematic plates were engraved from Maier’s designs by Matthias Merian, who
also engraved the emblems for the Book of Lambsprinck.
The Scrutinium Chymicum mentioned by Crowley in the “Curriculum of A∴A∴” was an
incomplete 1687 reprint of Atalanta (Secretioris Naturæ Secretorum Scruitinium Chymicum,
per oculis et intellectui accurate accommodata, figuris cupro appotissime incisa, ingeniosissima
Emblamata, hisque confines, et ad rem egregie facientes sententias, Doctissimaque item
Epigrammata, illustratum &c. &c. &c. Francofurti, Impensis Georgii Henrici Oehrlingii,
Bibliopolæ, Typo Johannis Philippi Andreæ. 4to., viii + 150); the musical scores and some of
the front-matter were omitted. It seems likely that this version had a larger circulation
than the original; the Atalanta was cited under this title by Jung in his writings on
psychology and alchemy, for instance. In 1708 the publisher responsible for Scrutinium
Chymicum issued a German translation as Chymisches Cabinet. A facsimile of the original
issue of Atalanta was published in 1939. In 1986 Joscelyn Godwin prepared an English
translation which included the scores, re-set in modern notation, and sold with a cassette
recording of the music. It was reprinted by Phanes Press in 1991, but Phanes Press
ceased trading a few years later and it is now rare. I have not been able to examine a
copy, although the references to it I have seen indicate that it omits the discourses.
— T.S.
EPIGRAMMA AUTHORIS.
Heſperii precium iuvenis tulit impiger horti
Dante Deá pomum Cypride tergeminum:
Idque ſequens fugientis humo glomeravit adora
Virginis, hinc tardas contrahit illa moras:
Mox micat is, micat hæc mox ante fugacior Euris,
Alteratum ſpargens aurea dona ſolo,
Ille morabatur veſtigia lenta puellae
Rurſus at hæc rurſus dat ſua terga fugæ;
Tertia donec amans iterârit pondera, ceſſit
Victori merces hin ATALANTA ſuo.
Hippomenes virtus eſt ſulphuris, illa fugacis
Mercurii, in curſu femina victa mare eſt.
Qui poſtquam cupido ſe complectuntur amore
In fano Cybeles corrigit ira Deam;
Pelle leonina vindex & veſtiit ambos,
In de rubent poſthac corpore, ſuntque feri.
Huius ut exprimeret ſimulacra ſimillima curſus
Voce tibi ternâ dat mea Muſa fugaes:
Una manet ſimplex pomúmque refert remorans vox,
Altera ſed fugiens, tertia ritè ſequens.
Auribus iſta tuis, oculíſque Emblemata proſtent,
At ratio arcanas expetat inde notas:
Senſibus haec objecta tuli, intellectus ut illis
Illicibus caparet, quæ precioſa latent.
Orbis quic quid opum, vel habet Medicina ſalutis,
Omne Leo geminus ſuppeditare poteſt.
THE AUTHOR’S EPIGRAM.
[Explanation of Frontiſpiece]
Three Golden Apples from the Heſperian grove.
A preſent Worthy of the Queen of Love.
Gave wiſe Hippomenes Eternal Fame.
And Atalanta’s cruel Speed O’ercame.
In Vain he follows ’till with Radiant Light,
One Rolling Apple captivates her Sight.
And by its glittering charms retards her flight.
She Soon Outruns him but freſh rays of Gold,
Her Longing Eyes & Slackened Footſteps Hold,
’Till with diſdain She all his Art defies,
And Swifter then an Eaſtern Tempeſt flies.
Then his deſpair throws his laſt Hope away,
For ſhe muſt Yield whom Love & Gold betray.
What is Hippomenes, true Wiſdom knows.
And whence the Speed of Atalanta Flows.
She with Mercurial Swiftneſs is Endued,
Which Yields by Sulphur’s prudent Strength purſued.
But when in Cybel’s temple they would prove
The utmoſt joys of their Exceſſive Love,
The Matron Goddeſs thought herſelf diſdained,
Her rites Unhallowed & her ſhrine profaned.
Then her Revenge makes Roughneſs o’er them riſe,
And Hideous feireeneſſe Sparkle from their Eyes.
Still more Amazed to ſee themſelves look red,
Whilſt both to Lions changed Each Other dread.
He that can Cybell’s Myſtic change Explain,
And thoſe two Lions with true Redneſs ſtain,
Commands that treaſure plenteous Nature gives
And free from Pain in Wiſdom’s Splendor lives.
EMBLEMA I.
Portavit eum ventus in ventre ſuo.
(The Wind carried him in his belly)
E PIGRAMMA I.
Embryo ventoſâ Boreæ qui clauditur alvo
Vivus in hanc lucem ſi ſemel ortus erit;
Unus is Heroum cunctos ſuperare labores
Arte, manu, forti corpore, mente, poteſt.
Ne tibi ſit Coeſo, nec abortus inutilis ille,
Non Agrippa, bono ſydere ſed genitus.
Engliſh’d thus:
If BOREAS can in his own Wind conceive
An offſpring that can bear this light & live;
In art, Strength, Body, Mind He ſhall excell
All wonders men of Ancient Heroes tell.
Think him no Caeſo nor Abortive brood,
Nor yet Agrippa, for his Star is good.
1
D ISCOURSE I.
Hermes, the moſt induſtrious ſearcher into all the ſecrets of Nature, doth in his
Smaragdine Table exquiſitely thus ſuccinctly deſcribe the Natural Work when he ſays:
‘Wind carried Him in his belly,’ as if he ſhould have ſaid that He whoſe father is Sol &
mother is Luna muſt, before he can be brought forth into the light, be carried by windy
fumes, even as a Bird is carried in the Air when it flies.
Now from fumes or winds (which are nothing elſe but Air in Motion) being coagulated,
Water is produced, & from Water mixed with earth all minerals & metals do proceed.
And even theſe laſt are ſaid to conſiſt of & be immediately coagulated from fumes, ſo that
whether He be placed in Water or fume the thing is the ſame; for one as well as the other
is the maſter of Wind. The ſame the more remotely may be ſaid of Minerals & Metals, but
the Queſtion is: Who is He that ought to be carried by Winds? I anſwer: Chymically it is
Sulphur which is carried in Argent Vive (contained in quickſilver), as Lully in his
Codicill cap. 32 & all other Authors atteſt. [Marginal note: “Lully ibid: ‘The wind carries
him in his belly;’ That is, ſulphur is carried by Argent Vive; & Ch. 47: ‘The Stone is Fire
carried in the Belly of Air.’”] Phyſically it is the Embryo, which in a little time ought to
be borne into the light. I ſay alſo that Arithmetically it is the Root of a Cube; Muſically it
is the Diſdiapaſon; Geometrically it is a point, the beginning of a continued running line;
Aſtronomically it is the Center of the Planets Saturn, Jupiter & Mars.
Now although theſe are different Subjects, Yet if they be well compared together they
will eaſily demonſtrate what the offſpring of Wind muſt be. But this enquiry muſt be left
to every man's own Induſtry, be it remembered. But I ſhall point out the matter more
plainly thus: All Mercury is compoſed of fumes, that is of Water elevating Earth together
with itſelf into an aerial rarity or thinneſs, & of Earth forcing Air to return into Watery
Earth or Earthy Water; for when the Elements are in it altogether & mixed throughout &
mutually blended, ſubdued & reduced to a certain Viſcous Nature, they do not eaſily
recede from one another, but either follow the Volatile flying upwards, or remain below
with thoſe that are fixed.
Nor is it indeed without reaſon that Mercury is called the Meſſenger or Interpreter & as it
were the running intermediate Miniſter of the other Gods & has Wings fitted to his head
& feet; for He is Windy & flies through the air as wind itſelf, which many Perſons are
really & experimentally convinced of, to their great damage. But becauſe he carries a Rod
or Caduceus about which two ſerpents are twined acroſs one the other, by which he can
draw ſouls out of bodies & bring them back again & effect many ſuch contrarities, He is a
moſt Excellent figure or repreſentation of the Philoſophical Mercury. Mercury, therefore,
is Wind, which takes Sulphur, or Dionyſius, or (if You pleaſe ſo to call it) Aſculepius,
being yet an imperfect Embryo out of the Mother’s belly or out of the Aſhes of the
Mother's body burned, & carries it thither where it may be brought to maturity.
2
And the Embryo is Sulphur, which by the celeſtial Sun is infuſed into the Wind of
Boreas, that he may bring it forth in maturity. Who, after the complete time of his
Teeming, does bring forth twins, one with white Hair, Called Calais, the other with Red,
named Zethes. Theſe Sons of Boreas (as Orpheus the Chymick Poet writes) were
Companions to Jaſon amongſt the ſet of the Argonauts when he went to fetch the Golden
Fleece from Colchis, for Phineas the blind Prophet, being infeſted by the Harpies, could
not be freed from them but by theſe Sons of Boreas, & for ſo great a benefit obtained by
their means, He out of gratitude ſhowed the whole courſe of their way to the Argonauts.
Theſe Harpies are nothing elſe but corrupting Sulphur which is driven away by the Sons
of Boreas when they come to full age, & from a thing imperfect and moleſted with
noxious and hurtful Volatiles becomes perfect & not ſubject to that Evil, & afterwards
ſhows Jaſon its Phyſician the way how to obtain the Golden Fleece.
Baſil [Valentine] as well as other Authors takes Notice of theſe Winds & in his ſixth Key
ſays thus: “For there ought to come a double Wind named Vulturnus & a ſingle Wind
called Notus which will blow impetuouſly from the Eaſt & the South, upon the ceſſation
of whoſe motion ſo that Water is made of their Air. You may confidently believe that a
Corporeal thing will be made of a Spiritual.” & Ripley, Gate 8th, ſays that our infant
ought to be born again in Air, that is, in the Belly of the Wind. In the ſame ſenſe may that
be taken which we find in Scala Philoſophorum Degree the 6th: “You muſt know that the
Son of the Wiſe is born in the Air,” & Degree 8th: “Airy Spirits aſcending together into
the Air do love one another; as Hermes ſaid, ‘the Wind carried him in his Belly,’ becauſe
the generation of our Son is made in the Air, & being born in the Air is born Wiſely, for
he aſcends from Earth to Heaven, & again deſcends to Earth acquiring both the ſuperiour
& inferiour Virtue.”
3
EMBLEMA II.
Nutrix eius terra eſt.
(The Earth is his Nurſe)
E PIGRAMMA II.
Romulus hirt a lupae preſſiſſe, ſed ubera caprae
Jupiter, & factis, fartur adeſſe fides:
Quid mirum, tener Sapientium viſcera Prolis
Si ferimus Terram lacte nutriſe ſuo?
Parvula ſi tantas Heroas beſtia pavit,
Quantus, cui Nutrix Terreus Orbis, erit?
4
D ISCOURSE II.
It is determined by the Peripatetic & other Philoſophers of ſound Judgment that the
thing nouriſhing muſt be converted into the ſubſtance of the nouriſhed & made like to it,
not before but after it has received an alteration, & this is admitted as an undoubted
axiom. For how ſhould the thing nouriſhing, ſuppoſing it beforehand to be like to, or the
ſame with the thing nouriſhed, have need of any change in its eſſence, which if it ſhould
happen would hinder it from remaining the ſame or alike. For how ſhould thoſe things
be received for nouriſhment which cannot be converted into a like ſubſtance with the
thing nouriſhed, as wood, ſtones, &c. As therefore the firſt is vain ſo the ſecond is
contrary to Nature.
But for an infant newborn to be nouriſhed with the Milk of Animals is a thing not
repugnant to Nature, for milk will become of the like ſubſtance with it, but more eaſily if
it be ſucked from the Mother than any other Creature. Wherefore Phyſicians conclude
that it conduces to the health & ſtrength of an infant as likewiſe to the conformity of
temper & manners if it is always fed & nouriſhed by the milk of its own Mother, & that
the contrary happens if it is done by that of a Stranger. This is the Univerſal Harmony of
Nature: That Like delights in its Like & as far as it can poſſibly follows its footſteps in
everything by a certain tacit conſent & agreement. The ſame thing happens of courſe in
the Natural work of the Philoſophers, which is equally governed by Nature in its
Formation as an Infant in its Mother's womb. And although as Father, Mother & even a
Nurſe be aſcribed to it by way of ſimilitude, Yet it is not more Artificial than the
generation of every Animal.
Two ſeeds are by a pleaſurable Artifice joined together by Animals & both the Human
ſexes which being united by ſucceſſive Alteration produce an Embryo which grows & is
increaſed, acquires life & motion, & then is nouriſhed by Milk. But it is neceſſary for a
Woman in the time of Conception & impregnation to be very temperate in heat, Food,
drink, Motion, Reſt & all things elſe; otherwiſe Abortion will follow & deſtruction of the
conceived Embryo, which Obſervation in the ſix non-naturals becauſe it is preſcribed by
the Phyſicians according to their Art is alſo Artificial. After the ſame manner, if the ſeeds
be not joined together in the Philoſophical Work, they ought to be joined, but if they
could anywhere be found joined together as the ſeed of a Cock & Hen do ſubſiſt together
& are contained in one Egg, then would the Philoſophers’ work be more natural that the
generation of Animals.
But let us grant (as the Philoſophers do aſſert) that one comes from the Eaſt & the other
from the Weſt & are made one: what more is as miniſtered to 'em than mixture in their
own Veſſel, Temperate Heat, and Nutriment. The Veſſel is indeed Artificial, but in this
there is no more difference than if the neſt were made by the Hen herſelf or made for her
by the Country Dame in ſome convenient place as commonly it is. The Generation of
Eggs & Hatching of Chickens from them will be the ſame. Heat is a Natural thing,
whether it proceed from the Temperate Heat of furnaces, putrefaction of Dung, from the
5
Sun & Air, from the Bowels of the Mother, or otherwiſe. Thus the AEgyptian from his
Furnaces does by Art Adminiſter a Natural Heat for the Hatching of Eggs. The ſeeds of
Silk worms & even Hens’ Eggs are ſaid to have been Hatched by the Warmth of a
Virgin's breaſts. Art, therefore, & Nature, do mutually join hands & officiate one for the
other. Nevertheleſs, Nature is always the Miſtreſs & art the Handmaid.
But a doubt may [be] raiſed how the Earth may be ſaid to be the NURSE of the
Philoſophical Infant, ſeeing it is the Element which is moſt dry & void of Juice, inſomuch
that Dryneſs appertains to it as its proper quality. It may be anſwered that Earth
Elemented is to be underſtood, & not the Element of Earth, whoſe Nature we have fully
explained in the firſt day of our Philoſophical Week. This Earth is the Nurſe of Caelum or
Heaven, not by opening, waſhing, or moiſtening the Infant, but by coagulating, fixing,
coloring and converting it into more Juice & Blood. For Nutrition implies an
Augmentation in length, breadth & Depth which extends itſelf through all the
Dimenſions of a Body, & ſeeing this can be afforded & adminiſtered to the Philoſophical
Infant by Earth only, it can in no wiſe be improper to call the Earth by the name of his
NURSE. But this admirable Juice of Earth has a quality different from other kinds of
Milk which are converted & do not convert for this by reaſon of its moſt efficacious
Virtue does mightily alter the Nature of the thing Nouriſhed, as the Milk of the Wolf is
believed to have diſpoſed the Body of Romulus to a Nature that was Magnanimous &
prepenſe to War.
6
EMBLEMA III.
Vade ad mulierem lavantem pannos, tu fac ſimiliter.
(Go to the Woman Waſhing Clothes & do after the ſame Manner.)
E PIGRAMMA III.
Abdita quiſquis amas ſerutari dogmata, ne ſis
Deſes, in exemplum, quod juvet, omni trahas:
Anne vides, mulier, maculis abſtergere pannos
Ut ſoleat calidis, quas ſuperaddit, aquis?
Hanc imitare, tuâ nec ſic fruſtraberis arte,
Namque nigri faecem corporis lavat.
7
D ISCOURSE III.
When Linen Clothes are ſoiled & made dirty by earthy Filth, they are cleaned by
the next Element to it: Namely Water; & then clothes being expoſed to the Air, the
moiſture together with the Faeces is drawn out by the heat of the Sun as by fire,
which is the fourth Element, & if this be often repeated, they become clean & free
from ſtains. This is the work of women which is taught them by Nature. For we
ſee (as Iſaac remarks) that the Bones of Beaſts if they are often wet with Rain & as
often dried by the heat of the Sun will be reduced to a perfect whiteneſs. The ſame
is to be obſerved in the Philoſophick Subject, for whatever faeces or Crudities are
in it will be purged & taken away by the infuſion of its proper Waters, & the
whole body will be brought to a great perfection & cleanneſs. For all Chemical
preparations, as Calcination, Sublimation, Solution, Diſtillation, Deſcenſion,
Coagulation, Fixation, & the reſt are performed by waſhing only. For whoever
waſhes a thing unclean with waters does the ſame thing as He that runs through
all theſe Operations. For, as the Roſary of the Philoſophers [Roſarium
Philoſophorum] ſaith; "The Inner Clothes Prince Divinick, being ſoiled by ſweat,
are to be waſhed by Fire & burned in Waters, ſo that Fire & Water ſeem to have
interchanged their mutual Qualities, or elſe the Philoſophic Fire is not to be
ſuppoſed of the ſame kind with the common Fire;" & the ſame thing is to be ſaid of
the Philoſophic Water.
As for the Calc Vive or Quicklime & Ignis Graecus, we know that they are kindled
by Water & cannot be extinguiſhed by it contrary to the Nature of other things
that will take Fire; ſo it is affirmed that Camphor over-kindled will burn in Water.
And Anſel. de Bood ſays that the Stone Gagates being ſet on Fire is more eaſily
quenched by Oil than Water, for Oil will mingle with it and choke the fiery body.
Whereas Water not being able to mix with the fatneſs yields the the fire unleſs it
totally covers & overwhelms it, which it cannot eaſily do, becauſe although it be a
Stone, it ſwims upon the top of the Water like Oil; ſo Naptha, Petroleum & the like
are not eaſily quenched by Water. Some write that there are Subterranean Coals in
the Country of Liege which, taking Fire under the earth, cannot be extinguiſhed by
water, by by Earth thrown in upon them. Cornelius Tacitus mentions ſuch a ſort of
Fire which cannot be quenched but by Clubs & Clothes taken from the Body &
thrown upon it.
There is, therefore, great diverſity in Fires, both in their being kindled &
extinguiſhed, & there is no leſs in Liquors, for Milk, Vinegar, Spirits of Wine, aqua
fortis, aqua Regia and Common Water differ very much when they are thrown
upon Fire; ſometimes the matter itſelf will endure Fire, as thoſe fine Linen Clothes
8
which were of great Eſteem among the Ancients & were cleaned by Fire, their dirt
being burned away. What is ſaid of the Hairs of a Salamander, that they will make
the wick of a Lamp that ſhall be incombuſtible is not to be Credited. But there are
perſons who really affirm that there was a contexture prepared from Talc,
Plumous Alumine & other materials by a Cunning Woman of Antwerp which ſhe
ſaid to cleanſe by Fire, but that ſhe of envy ſuffered that Art to die with Her, & the
Temperament could never be found out afterwards. We do not ſpeak here of
combuſtible matters.
The Philoſophical Subject, whenever it is prepared, muſt be conſidered under all
theſe differences, for their Fire, Water & Matter itſelf is not Common. But their Fire
is Water & their Water is Fire. Their Water at the ſame time waſhes & calcines, &
ſo does their Fire.; & the Clothes which muſt be waſhed have the ſame nature with
the Fine linen before mentioned or Talk prepared; but the Tempering of it & the
Art in its preparation is not known to everyone. For the waſhing of this Linen, a
Lye muſt be made, not of Oak aſhes or their Salt, but from Metals, which is more
durable than any other; and it muſt not be Common Water, but Water Congealed
into Ice & ſnow under the ſign Aquarius, for this has finer Particles than the
ſtanding Waters of Fens and Marſhes, & conſequently can better penetrate into the
Receſſes of the Philoſophic Body to waſh and purge it from filth & Blackneſs.
9
EMBLEMA IV.
Coniunge fratrem cum ſorore & propina illis poculum amoris:
(Join the Brother & the Siſter & drink to ’em in the Bowl of Love.)
E PIGRAMMA IV.
Non hominum foret in mundo nunc tanta propago,
Si fratri conjunx non data prima ſoror.
Ergo lubens conjunge duos ab utroque parente
Progenitos, ut ſint faemina maſque toro.
Praebibe nectareo Philotheſia pôcla liquore
Utriſque, & faetus ſpem generabit amor.
10
D ISCOURSE IV.
Divine & Human Laws prohibit thoſe Perſons to intermarry who are joined by
Nature in too near degrees of Blood, whether in a Line aſcending, deſcending, or
collateral, & that for very juſt reaſons. But when Philoſophers ſpeak of the
Marriage of a Mother with her Son, a Father with his Daughter, or a Brother with
his Siſter, theſe neither ſpeak nor act againſt the Laws before mentioned, Becauſe
the Subjects diſtinguiſh the Attributes, & the Cauſe the Effects. For the Perſons of
whom the Philoſophers ſpeak are as much at liberty as the Sons & Daughters of
Adam, who intermarried without the Imputation of any Crime. The chiefeſt reaſon
ſeems to be that the Human Race might be more ſtrictly United & aſſociated by
affinity & friendſhip, & not be divided by enmities & Hereditary Factions of
families. So nothing hindered the Sons & Daughters of Adam, though Brothers &
Siſters, to be joined in marriage, for mankind did exiſt in them alone & their
Parents, & therefore, although they were allied in blood, yet were they to be joined
in affinity.
But the number of men increaſing & being diſtributed into innumerable families,
the true & juſt Cauſe was found, why Brothers & Siſters ſhould not marry. The
Philoſophers have a different reaſon why the Brother ſhould marry the Siſter,
which is the ſimilitude of their Subſtance, that Like may be joined to its Like. Of
this kind, there are two which are alike in Specie but different in Sex. One of
which is called the Brother, the other the Siſter. Theſe therefore being in the ſame
liberty & Condition as the firſt kindred of men, are Lawfully indeed, & by an
inevitable neceſſity to be joined together in Matrimony.
The Brother is hot & dry, & therefore very Cholerick. The Siſter is cold & moiſt,
having much Phlegmatick matter in her. Which two Natures, ſo different in their
Temper, agree beſt in fruitfulneſs, Love, & Propagation of Children. For as Fire
will not eaſily be ſtruck out of the hardeſt Bodies, Steel & Steel, nor out of thoſe
brittle Bodies, Flint & Flint, but from the hard & brittle, that is, Steel & Flint, ſo
neither from a burning Male & Fiery Female, nor from both of 'em being cold (for
cold is the unfruitfulneſs of the Male) can a living offſpring be produced. But he
muſt be hot & ſhe more cold than he, for in Human Temperament, the hotteſt
Woman is colder that the coldeſt Man, ſuppoſing him to be in Health, as Levinus
Semnius, in his book of the Hidden Miracles of Nature affirms. The Siſter,
therefore, & Brother are rightly joined by the Philoſophers.
If a man deſire offſpring from a Hen, Bitch, or Ewe, or other animal, He joins it to a
Cock, Dog, or Ram, every animal to that ſpecies to which it is moſt like, & ſo he
obtains his End. For he does not regard the Conſanguinity of theſe Brutes, but the
11
generoſity of each & agreement of their Natures. The ſame may be ſaid of the body
of a Tree & the Hip that is to be ingrafted into it. So the Metallic Nature, which
above all things has a likeneſs or Homogeneity of Subſtance, deſires its like when
any thing is to be joined to it. But the Brother & Siſter being married will not be
fruitful or long perſiſt in their Love, unleſs a Philotheſium or Cup of Love be
drunk to 'em as a Philtre. For by this, their minds being compoſed & united, they
become drunk, & (like Lot) all ſhame being baniſhed, they are joined & produce an
offſpring that is Spurious but Legitimate.
Who can be ignorant that Mankind is very much obliged to Medicine, & that there
are thouſands of perſons in the World who had not exiſted unleſs their Parents had
been freed from Barrenneſs, either by removing the Cauſe, or taking away the
impediment, either near or remote, and preſerving the Mother from Abortion.
Therefore the Cup of Love is given to the new-married Pair for theſe reaſons
which are three: the Conſtancy of Love, the Removal of Barrenneſs, & the
Hindrance of Abortion.
12
EMBLEMA V.
Appone mulieri ſuper mammas bufonem, ut ablactet eum,
& moriatur mulier, ſitque bufo groſſus de lacte.
(Put a Toad to the Woman’s breaſt, that ſhe may ſuckle him
’till ſhe die, & he become groſs with her milk.)
E PIGRAMMA V.
Foemineo gelidus ponatur pectore Bufo,
Inſtar ut infantis lactea pocla bibat.
Creſcat & in magnum vacuata per ubera tuber,
Et mulier vitam liquerit aegra ſuam.
Inde tibi facies medicamen nobile, virus
Quod fuget humano corde, levétque luem.
13
D ISCOURSE V.
The whole body of Philoſophers agree in this, that their work is nothing elſe but
male & female; the man's part is to generate, & govern the wife, & Her part is to
conceive, impregnate, bring forth, ſuckle & educate the offſpring, & be ſubject to
the Commands of her Huſband. For, as ſhe nouriſhes the conceived Embryo before
it is brought forth with her blood, ſo ſhe does afterwards with her milk. Hence,
Nature has prepared for the tender Infant a Digeſtible & well proportioned
Nutrient in the mother's Breaſts, which waits for his coming as his firſt proviſion &
ſuſtenance in his Courſe of Life. By milk therefore He is nouriſhed, grows, & is
increaſed 'till he be furniſhed with teeth, his fit inſtruments to eat bread withal.
Then He is properly weaned, becauſe Nature has provided him more ſolid food.
But here the Philoſophers ſay that a Toad muſt be put to the Woman's breaſts, that
ſhe may Nouriſh him as an infant with her Milk. This is a miſerable & horrid
ſpectacle, & indeed, an impious thing, that milk deſigned for an infant ſhould be
given to a Toad, being a Venomous beaſt & contrary to the Nature of Man. We
have heard & read of ſerpents and Dragons ſucking the Teats of Cows, & Toads
perhaps might do the like if they could gain an opportunity.
There is a noted ſtory of a Toad that fixed himſelf upon the mouth & outſide of the
lips of a Country man that was aſleep, & could not be removed by any contrivance
unleſs by Violence, which could not be attempted without the hazard of the man's
life, for he would then have ſpit his poiſon, which he uſes as his offenſive &
defenſive weapon. A Remedy was found for this miſerable man, from that
Antipathy which the Spider bears for the Toad, for they hate one the other
mortally. He was carried to the place where an overgrown Spider had made his
web, who, as ſoon as he ſaw the Toad, he let himſelf down upon his back &
pinched him with his ſting; but this doing no hurt, the Spider came down the
ſecond time, & ſtruck him more violently, upon which the Toad immediately
ſwelled & fell dead from the man’s mouth without any harm to him.
But here the contrary happens, becauſe the Toad does not ſeize the mouth, but the
Breaſt of the Woman, by whoſe milk he increaſes ſo much that he becomes of an
extraordinary ſtrength & bigneſs; but the woman, having her ſpirits exhauſted,
conſumes & dies, for poiſon is eaſily communicated to the Heart by the pectoral
Veins, & infects & deſtroys it, as it is evident in Cleopatra, who applied vipers to
her breaſts, that by a Voluntary death ſhe might prevent her coming into the
hands of her enemies & being led in Triumph by them. [In margin: ‘Theophilus in
Turba makes mention of a Dragon joined to a woman.’]
14
But, leſt any man ſhould think the Philoſophers ſo cruel as to faſten a Venomous
reptile to a woman’s breaſt, it muſt be known that this Toad is the offſpring or Son
of this woman, brought forth by a monſtrous birth, & therefore by Natural Right
muſt be fed with his Mother's Milk, & that it is not the Son’s deſire that his mother
ſhould die; for he could not infect his mother, ſeeing he was formed in her Bowels
& nouriſhed with her blood ’till the time of his birth. It is indeed a thing ominous
for a Toad to be born of Woman, which in our knowledge hath happened
otherwiſe: William of Newberry, an Engliſh writer, ſaith (how truly let others
judge) that in a certain Quarry in the Dioceſe of Vintonia, a great ſtone being ſplit,
there was a living Toad found in it, with a golden Chain, & it was by the Biſhop's
command, hidden in the ſame place & buried in perpetual darkneſs, leſt it might
bear an ill omen with it. Such alſo is this Toad, for it is embelliſhed, although not
outwardly, with an artificial chain, but inwardly with natural Gold, to wit: that of
the Stone which ſome call Borax, Chelonitus, Batrachites, Crapaudina, &
Garatronium, for this far excels Gold in Virtue againſt the poiſon of all animals, &
is commonly ſet in Gold as a caſe or Cover, that it may not be hurt or loſt.
Regularly it ought to be had out of an Animal.
But if the Stone be taken out of ſubterranean Caverns, as it is commonly, it may be
neatly contrived in that ſhape & uſed inſtead of it, being choſen from the beſt
minerals & moſt relevant to the Heart. For in theſe the Philoſophical Toad is really
found, not in the Quarry (as that fabulous author aſſerts), & has Gold in itſelf,
though its pomp does not outwardly appear. For to what end ſhould a Toad adorn
himſelf, ſeeing he lurks in darkneſs & ſecret places? Perhaps that he might be very
magnificently accoſted by the Beetle, if by chance he ſhould meet him in the
Twilight. What Subterranean Goldſmith ſhould make him that Golden Chain?
Perhaps that Father of the Green children, that came out of the Land of St. Martin,
or rather from the Earth itſelf, as the two Dogs came out of a Quarry, according to
the ſame Author.
15
EMBLEMA VI.
Seminate aurum veſtrum in terram albam foliatam
(Sow Your Gold in the white foliate Earth.)
E PIGRAMMA VI.
Ruricolae pingui mandant ſua femina terrae,
Cum fuerit raſtris haec foliata ſuis.
Philoſophi niveos aurum docuere per agros
Spargere, wui folii ſe levis inſtar habent:
Hoc ut agas, illus bene reſpice, namque quod aurum
Germinet, ex tritico videris, ut ſpeculo.
16
D ISCOURSE VI.
Plato ſays that a City does not conſiſt of a Phyſician & a Phyſician, but of a
Phyſician & a Huſbandman; that is, of men of diverſe Crafts & Profeſſions, & he
mentions then two more, eſpecially becauſe their Labors are more viſible in the
Imitation, Improvement, & Perfection of Nature. For they both take a Natural
Subject to which, according to their Art, they either add ſomething that is
neceſſarily wanting or remove thoſe things which are ſuperfluous. So that both
their Arts may (as medicine is by Hippocrates) be defined to be the addition of
what is wanting or Subtraction of ſuperfluity. For the Huſbandman does no more
than add ploughing, furrowing, Harrowing, dunging or manuring, & laſtly
ſowing to the Land that is left in its Original State.
But as for the increaſe & produce of it he leaves that to Nature which adminiſters
Rain to the Heat of the Sun, & by theſe two Multiplies the ſeeds & improves them
into ſtanding Corn fit for reaping. While the blade is growing he weeds out the
thiſtles & throws out all other impediments. He reaps the Corn when it is ripe &
cleans it when reaped from its ſtraw & Chaff. So the Phyſician (likewiſe the
Chemiſt in a different reſpect) adminiſters preventing Phyſick to the Patient as
well as Reſtorative, removes the Cauſe, Cures the malady, aſſuages ſymptoms,
takes away ſuperfluous blood by opening a vein & if low reſtores it by a
Regulation of Diet, evacuates ill humors by purging, & ſo by a thouſand methods
imitates, ſupplies & corrects Nature with the operations of Art & Underſtanding.
Our preſent Conſiderations are not concerning theſe things which are commonly
known, but of matters merely Chemical.
For Chemiſtry ſhows its Affinity to Huſbandry even in its ſecret Terms & courſes
of Operation. The Huſbandmen have their Earth into which they ſow their ſeed &
ſo have the Chemiſts. They have their Dung with which they enrich their ground,
ſo have theſe without which nothing can be accompliſhed nor any fruit expected.
They have ſeed from which they hope for an increaſe, & unleſs the Chemiſts had ſo
too, they would be like a Painter (as Lully ſays) endeavoring to draw the face of a
Man of whom he had never ſeen ſo much as the leaſt reſemblance. The Country
man expects Rain & Sunſhine & ſo indeed the Chemiſts muſt ſupply their work
with ſuch & Heat & Rain as is proper & convenient. What need of many words?
Chemiſtry runs entirely Parallel with Agriculture as its Deputy, & repreſents it in
all things, but under a moſt compleat Allegory. From hence the Ancients
produced their Cerereus, Triptolemus, Oſirideus, Dionyſius, Golden Gods, or ſuch
as had Relation to Chemiſtry, but at the ſame time repreſented them as teaching
mortals to caſt their ſeed into the Earth & ſhowing them Huſbandry & the planting
17
& Cultivation of Vines & the uſe of Wine. All which things the Ignorant falſely
applied to their Countries’ Employment. For theſe abſtruſe Myſteries of Nature
under theſe Veils are at the ſame time explained to the Wiſe, whilſt they are
concealed from the Vulgar.
Hence the Philoſophers affirm it to be ſowed in White foliated Earth, as if they
would have ſaid that the ſowing of Wheat muſt be looked upon as an example &
conſequently imitated. Which the Author of Tractatus de tritico & Jodoc Greverus
have moſt excellently performed in their Deſcriptions for they have very elegantly
adapted each Operation of Huſbandry in the production of Corn to the
Semination of Gold & the generation of the Tincture. White Earth as being Sandy
yields little fruit to the Countrymen who eſteem that which is black as being
fatteſt. But the other is of moſt Value to the Philoſophers if it be foliated, that is,
well prepared. For they know how to improve it with their Dung, which the
others do not. For ſemination is the propagation of the world by which Care is
taken that what cannot laſt in the individual may be continued in the ſpecies. This
is in Men, Animals & Plants; in the firſt, Hermaphroditically, in the two laſt under
different ſexes, but in Metals it is far otherwiſe, for in them a Line is made from the
flux of a Point, a Superficies from the flux of a Line, a body from the flux of a
Superficies.
But the Stars produce that point before either the line, the ſuperficies, or the Body,
becauſe it is the Principle of them all. Nature added the flux a long time
afterwards; that is, the Caeleſtial Phoebus generated a Son underneath the Earth,
which Mercury committed to Vulcan to be Educated, & to Chiron, that is, to
Manual operation, to be inſtructed, as it is reported of Achilles that he was
detained & Hardened in Fires by his Mother Thetis. Among other things He
learned Muſic & the Art of playing on the Harp from his Maſter Chiron. Achilles is
nothing elſe but the Philoſophic ſubject, whoſe Son is Pyrrhus, with red Hair,
without which two, Troy could not be ſubdued, as we have demonſtrated in the
ſixth Book of our Hieroglyphics.
18
EMBLEMA VII.
Fit pullus à nido volans, qui iterùm cadit in nidum.
(A young eaglet attempts to fly out of its own neſt & falls into it again.)
E PIGRAMA VII.
Rupe cavâ nidum Iovis Ales ſtruxerat, in quo
Delituit, pullos enutriítque ſuos:
Horum unus levibus voluit ſe tollere pennis,
At fuit implumi fratre retentus ave.
Inde volans redit in nidum, quem liquerat, illis
Junge caput caudae, tum nec inanis eris.
19
D ISCOURSE VII.
That which Hippocrates, the ſtandard of all Phyſick, affirms concerning Humors,
that they are different & many in the Body of Man, & not one only, otherwiſe
various diſeaſes would not ariſe, is found by us to be true likewiſe in the Elements
of the World. For if there was but one Element, there could be nom change of that
into another, no generation nor corruption would happen, but all would be one
immutable thing, and no meteors, minerals, plants or animals could be naturally
produced from it. Therefore the ſupreme creator compoſed the whole ſyſtem of
this whole world of diverſe & contrary natures, namely of light & heavy, hot &
cold, moiſt & dry, that one might by affinity paſs into the other, & ſo a compoſition
be made of bodies which ſhould be very different one from another in Eſſence,
Qualities, Virtues & Effects. For in things perfectly mixed are the light Elements,
as Fire & Air, & likewiſe the Heavy, as Earth & Water, which are to be poiſed and
tempered together, that one flies not from the other.
But the neighboring Elements eaſily ſuffer themſelves to be taken & detained by
their Neighbors. Earth & Air are contrary one to the other, & ſo are Fire & Water,
& Yet Fire maintains friendſhip with Air by heat common to both, & does ſo with
Earth by reaſon of dryneſs, & ſo Air with Water & Water with the Earth. By which
means they are joined in bonds of Affinity, or rather conſanguinity, & remain
together in one compoſition, which, if it abound with the light Elements, elevates
the Heavy with it; if with the heavy it preſſes down the light. This is illuſtrated by
two Eagles, one with Wings, the other without; the firſt of which, endeavoring to
fly, is reſtrained by the ſecond. There is a plain Example of this Matter in the fight
between the Falcon & Heron, for the Falcon, ſoaring higher in the Air by his
ſpeedy Flying & ſwift wings, takes & tears the Heron with his Talons, by whoſe
weight, both fall to the ground. The contrary appeared in the Artificial Dove
which was an Automata or ſelf-moving piece of Workmanſhip made by Architas,
whoſe heavy things were carried upwards by light, that is, its wooden body was
lifted into the Air by the Spirit that was encloſed within it.
In the Philoſophical Subject, the light things are firſt predominant over the Heavy
as to their quantity, but they are overcome by virtue of the heavy, 7 in proceſs of
time, the eagle's wings are cut off, & one very great Bird (namely an Oſtrich) is
made of two, which Bird can conſume Iron, & being hindered by its own weight,
ſeems rather to run upon the Earth that to fly in the Air, although it has goodly
wings. Concerning this or one like it, Hermes (as the Author of Aurora, ch. 5th
affirms) writes thus: 'I have conſidered a Bird Venerable to the Wiſe, which flies
when it is in Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn,' & 'You will acquire it Perpetually
20
to yourſelf out of mere minerals & Rocks of Mountainous places.' Senior in Tabula
relates to the ſame thing, where two birds are ſeen, one flying, the other without
wings, whereof the one holds the other's Tail by its beak, that they cannot eaſily be
ſeparated. For this is the machination or device of Univerſal Nature, always to
raiſe heavy things by light, & to depreſs light ones by heavy, as the Author of
Perfectum Magiſterius declares: 'Who conſtitutes ſeven Mineral Spirits, as it were
erratic or Wandering Stars, & ſo many Metallic Bodies & Fixed Stars, and enjoins
theſe to be married to the others.' And thence Ariſtotle the Chemiſt ſays: 'The Spirit
having diſſolved the Body & Soul ſo that they may exiſt in their form, does not
remain unleſs You Occupy it.'
Now this Occupation is that You join it with the Body from whence you prepared
it in the beginning. Becauſe in that the Spirit at the ſuperexiſtences of the Body is
Occupied from flight. In Camphora, as Bonus obſerves, the light Elements, that is,
Air & Fire, prevail over the Heavy, & therefore it is ſaid wholly to exhale &
evaporate into Air. In Argent Vive, the Flowers of Sulphur, Antimony, the ſalt of
Heart's blood, Sal Armoniac & ſuch other things, the Earth flies with the Alembic,
& is not ſeparated from it. In Gold, Glaſs, Diamonds, the Stone Smiris, Granite, &
the like, the Elements remain joined a long time notwithſtanding the fire, without
any detriment. For the Earth retains the other Elements with itſelf. In other
Combuſtibles, a ſeparation or diviſion of one from another is effected, ſo that the
Aſhes are left in the Bottom, & the Water, Air & Fire fly upwards.
We muſt not therefore have reſpect to the unequal Compoſition of theſe laſt, being
not ſo ſtrongly mixed, nor to the Commixture of the firſt, which is more deſirable,
though compoſed of Volatiles. But to the ſolidity, Conſtancy & Fixity of the middle
ones. For ſo the Bird without wings will detain that which hath, and the Fixed
Subſtances will Fix the Volatiles, which is the thing that of neceſſity muſt be
Effected.
21
EMBLEMA VIII.
Accipe ovum & igneo percute gladio.
(Take an Egg & ſmite it with a fiery ſword.)
E PIGRAMMA VIII.
Eſt avis in mundo ſublimior omnibus, Ovum
Cujus ut inquiras, cura ſit una tibi.
Albumen luteum circumdat molle vitellum,
Ignito (ceu mos) cautus id enſe petas:
Vulcano Mars addat opem: pullaſter & inde
Exortus, ferri victor & ignis erit.
22
D ISCOURSE VIII.
There are many & diverſe kinds of Birds whoſe number is uncertain & their
Names unknown to Us. Story tells us of a very great Bird named Ruc [Roc?], that
appears at certain ſeaſons of the Year in a ſmall Iſland of the Ocean, which can bear
an Elephant up with it into the Air. India & America ſend us Crows & Parrots of
diverſe Colors. But it is not the Philoſophical intention to enquire after the Eggs of
theſe birds. The AEgyptians yearly perſecute the Crocodiles’ Eggs with weapons
of Iron & deſtroy them. The Philoſophers do indeed ſmite their Eggs with fire, but
it is not with an intent to mortify it, but that it may live & grow up. For, ſeeing that
an animate & living chicken is thence produced, it cannot be ſaid to be Corruption,
but generation. It ceaſes to be an Egg by the privation of the Oval form, & begins
to be a two-footed & volatile Animal by the introduction of a more noble Form, for
in the Egg are the ſeeds of both male & female joined together under one Shell or
Cover.
The Yolk conſtitutes the Chicken with its radical parts & Bowels, the ſeed of the
male forming it & becoming the internal Efficient, whereas the White...
[**”Albumen materiam ſeu ſubtegmen & incrementum dat rudimento ſeu ſtamini
pulli.”] The external heat is the firſt mover which by a certain Circulation of the
Elements & change of one into the other, introduces a new form by the inſtinct &
guidance of Nature. For Water paſſes into Air, Air into Fire, Fire into Earth, which
being joined together, & a ſpecific being tranſmitted by the ſtars, an individual
Bird is made of that kind whoſe Egg it was & whoſe ſeed was infuſed into it. This
is ſaid to be ſmitten with a fiery ſword when Vulcan performing the office of a
Midwife as he did to Pallas coming from the brain of Jupiter, does by his ax make
a paſſage for the newborn Chicken. This is what Baſil Valentine affirms, that
Mercury was impriſoned by Vulcan at the command of Mars, & could not be
releaſed before he was wholly purified & dead. But this death is to him the
beginning of a New life, as the Corruption or death of the Egg brings new
generation & life to the Chicken.
So an Embryo being freed from that human vegetable life which alone it enjoyed
in the Mother's womb, obtains another, more perfect one, by his birth & coming
into the light of the world. So when we ſhall paſs from this preſent life, there
remains for us another that is moſt perfect & Eternal. Lully in many places calls
this fiery ſword a ſharp Lance, becauſe fire as a Lance or ſharp ſword perforates
bodies & makes them porous & pervious [?], ſo that they may be penetrated by
waters & be diſſolved & being reduced from hardneſs become ſoft & Tractable. In
the Stomach of a Cormorant, which is the moſt voracious of all Birds, there are
23
found long & round worms which ſerve it as the inſtruments of Heat, & as we
have ſometimes obſerved, ſeize upon thoſe Eels & other fiſh which ſhe has
ſwallowed & Pierce them like ſharp needles, & ſo conſume them in a ſhort time by
a wonderful operation of Nature. As, therefore, Heat pierces, ſo that which pierces
will ſometimes ſupply the abſence of Heat. Upon which Conſideration, that
wherewith the Philoſophical Egg ought to be ſmitten may not undeſervedly be
called a fiery ſword.
But the Philoſophers had rather have it underſtood of Temperate Heat, whereby
the Egg is cheriſhed, as Morfoleus in Turba declares: ‘It is neceſſary [that a] wiſe
man’s moiſture be burned up with a ſlow fire, as is ſhown us in the Example of the
generation of a Chicken, & where the fire is increaſed, the Veſſel muſt be ſtopped
on all ſides, that the body of the Air (or braſs) [‘aeris’ in original] & the fugitive
ſpirit of it may not be extracted.’ But what Bird’s Egg muſt it be? Moſcus tells us
in the ſame place: ‘Now I ſay that no inſtruments are made except of our white
ſtarry ſplendid powder, & of the white Stone, of which powder are made fit
inſtruments for the Egg. But they have not named the Egg, nor what Bird's Egg it
muſt be.’
24
EMBLEMA IX.
Arborem cum ſene conclude in rorida domo,
& comedens de fructu eius fiet iuvenis.
(Shut up the Tree with the Old Man in a Houſe of Dew,
& eating the fruit thereat He will become Young.)
E PIGRAMMA IX.
Arbor ineſt hortis Sophiae dans aurea mala,
Haec tibi cum noſtro ſit capienda ſene;
Inque domo vitrea claudantur, roréque plenâ,
Et ſine per multos haec duo juncta dies:
Tum fructu (mirum!) ſatiabitur arboris ille
Ut fiat juvenis qui fuit ante ſenex.
25
D ISCOURSE IX.
All things that grow in length, breadth & Depth, that is, are Born, nouriſhed,
augmented, brought to maturity, & propagated, the ſame things likewiſe decreaſe,
that is, have their ſtrength diminiſhed, dice, fall away, as we ſee in all Vegetables &
Animals. Wherefore man alſo, when he arrives at full growth, admits of decay,
which is the ſame thing as old age, whereby his ſtrength is ſenſibly diminiſhed 'till
he die. For the cauſe of old Age is the ſame with that of a Lamp that burns dim for
want of Oil, for as there are three things in a Lamp: the wick, fatneſs & flame, ſo in
a man the wick is the Vital members, the Bowels & Limbs. The fatneſs is the
radical moiſture, & the flame is the Natural Hat. The only difference is, the flame
of a Lamp ſhines bright, but the Natural Heat does not, it not being fire but only
Heat, & whereas that fatneſs is oily, the Radical moiſture is viſcous, being of a
ſeminal principle. As, therefore, a Lamp is extinguiſhed for want of oil, ſo man by
old age, without any other diſeaſe, falls into atrophy [maraſmus, lit. ‘dying away,’
from the Greek] & aged conſumption, & laſtly into his grave. It is reported of the
Eagle, that when he grows old, his beak becomes ſo crooked that he would die
with Hunger, unleſs he could caſt it. So Deer ſeem to grow young again by
throwing off their horns, Serpents their ſkins, & Crabs their ſhells; not that they
really do ſo, for their radical moiſture is not reſtored to them, but only in
appearance.
There is nothing that can reſtore Youth to man but death itſelf, which is the
beginning of Eternal life that follows it. However, there are ſome that ſay as to his
external Form & the reſtoring of his ſtrength in ſome meaſure, together with the
taking away of wrinkles, & changing of grey Hair, a proper remedy may be found
out, as Lully affirms of his Quinteſſence, & Arnold of prepared Gold. But here the
Philoſophers ſay that if the Old Man would become Young, he muſt be ſhut up in a
Houſe of Dew, & then he will eat of the fruit of the Tree, & ſo recover Youth. It is
ſcarce believed by the Vulgar that ſuch Trees can be in Nature. The Phyſicians
write wonders of Myrobalanis [literally: 'miracle fruit'], the Fruit of a certain Tree,
that they reſtore grey Hair to blackneſs, purify the blood & prolong life. But this is
ſcarce credited.
Marſilio Ficino, in his book of preſerving the health of ſtudents, recommends
ſucking the milk of a beautiful young woman, others recommend the eating of
Vipers’ fleſh, but theſe remedies are more troubleſome than Old Age itſelf, & could
not be obtained by one in a thouſand, although their effect ſhould be certain.
Paracelſus, in his book of Long life, ſays a ſick man may attract to himſelf the
Health of another by imagination only, & ſo an Old Man may gather Youth. But
26
in this he ſeems rather to be guided by his fancy than experience. It is certain that
the people called Pſyllis, with their double pupils, & witches by their very aſpect
bewitch Cattle & Children, according to Virgil: “Neſcio quis teneros oculus mihi
faſcinet agnos.” Theſe things are done without contact. But as for the Tree which
is to reſtore the Old Man, the fruit of it is ſweet, red & full ripe, turning into the
beſt blood, as being eaſy of digeſtion, & affording the beſt Nutriment, leaving
nothing in the body that is faecal or ſuperfluous. But the Old Man abound with
white Phlegm, has white Hair & Complection, which Humours, Color, & Hair are
changed into that Red which appears in Youth & Vigor.
Therefore the Philoſophers ſay their Stone is firſt an Old Man that is white, & then
a Young man, which is Red. And they ſay further that the Old Man muſt be placed
together with the Tree, not in the open air, but in a Houſe, & that not dry, but
moiſt, with Dew. It may ſeem ſtrange that Trees ſhould ſpring & grow in a cloſe
place, but if it be moiſt, there is no doubt of their continuance. For the Nutriment
of a Tree is moiſture & Airy Earth that is fat, which can aſcend into the body &
Bough, & theſe produce leaves, bloſſoms & fruit. In which Natural work then is
the concurrence of all the Elements.
Fire gives the Firſt Motion as the efficient, Air gives Tenuity & Penetrability,
Water Lubricity, & Earth Coagulation. For when any of their ſuperfluities aſcend,
Air turns into Water, & Water into Earth. By Fire, I underſtand the Native Heat,
which being propagated with the ſeed, does by the Power of the Stars as if it were
a Smith, forge out & form ſuch fruits as are like to thoſe things from whence the
ſeed ariſeth. But a Dewy Evaporation is not only Expedient, to moiſten the Tree ſo
as to make it yield fruit, but likewiſe the Old Man, that he may the more eaſily be
made Young again by that fruit. For the Dewy Vapors will mollify, fill up, &
reſtore his dry & wrinkled ſkin with temperate heat & moiſture. Wherefore
Phyſicians very rationally & with good ſucceſs preſcribe Warm Baths for the
atrophy [“maraſmo”] or Conſumption of Old Age.
But if the thing be well conſidered, that Tree is the Daughter of the Old Man,
which as Daphne is changed into a Vegetable of the like ſort, & therefore the Old
Man may not unjuſtly expect Youth from it, ſeeing He himſelf was the cauſe of
their being.
27
EMBLEMA X.
Da ignem igni, Mercurium Mercurio, et ſufficit tibi.
(Give Fire to fire, Mercury to Mercury, and you have enough.)
E PIGRAMMA X.
Machina pendet ab hac mundi connexa catena
Tota, Suo Quod Par Gaudeat Omne Pari:
Mercurius ſic Mercurio, ſic jungitur igni
Ignis & haec arti ſit data meta tuae.
Hermetem Vulcanus agit, ſed penniger Hermes,
Cynthia, te ſolvit, te ſed, Apollo, ſoror.
28
D ISCOURSE X.
If this ſaying be taken literally, it only increaſeth the quantity of Fire & Mercury,
but introduceth no new quality into the ſubject. For every like added to its like,
makes it become more like. Hence Phyſicians affirm that contraries are healed &
removed by contraries. So we ſee Fire is extinguiſhed by Water, but fomented by
the addition of Fire. As the Poet ſays: “Venus in wine, as fire in Fire, does rage.”
[“Et Venus in vinis, ignis in igne furit.”] But it may be anſwered that Fire differs
very much from Fire, & Mercury from Mercury, for there are ſeveral ſorts of Fire &
Mercury amongſt the Philoſophers. Moreover, the ſame heat & cold, being diſtant
only in place & ſituation, differs from another of its own kind, ſo as to attract to it
that which is like to itſelf.
So we ſee that Heat fixed in any part is drawn forth by the ſame Heat. Limbs
benumbed & almoſt dead with Froſt & cold water will be reſtored by putting them
into cold Water rather than by the application of external heat. For as the greater
light obſcures the leſſer, ſo alſo greater heat or cold has power over the leſſer, ſo it
is neceſſary that the Cold or Heat that is outwardly applied ſhould be leſs than that
which was before imprinted or fixed in the joints, otherwiſe the ſame impreſſion
would be made as before, & the like would rather be much more increaſed than
drawn forth by the like.
This drawing out of cold by cold water, & of fiery heat by heat, is agreeable to
Nature, for all ſudden changes in contraries are dangerous & leſs acceptable to it,
but that which comes by degrees can more eaſily be endured. So we ſay there is
one internal Fire which is eſſentially infixed in the Philoſophical ſubject, & another
external. The ſame may likewiſe be ſaid of Mercury. The internal Fire is
Equivocally ſo cold becauſe of its fiery qualities, virtue, & operation, but the
External Fire is Univocally ſo. Therefore, External Fire & Mercury muſt be given to
the internal Fire & Mercury, that ſo the intention of the Work may be completed.
For in boiling we uſe Fire & Water to Mollify & mature any thing that has
crudities & hardneſs. For Water penetrates into & diſſolves the parts contracted,
whilſt the heat adds ſtrength & motion to it. Thus we ſee in the common coction of
Pulſe ["pulté"], which, being hard in themſelves, yet well are broken and reduced
to a pulp in Water, the heat of the Fire rarifying the Water by ebullition &
reducing to almoſt an aerial ſubſtance, ſo the heat of Fire reſolves the crude parts of
Fruit or Fleſh into water, & makes them Vaniſh into Air together with it.
After the ſame manner, Fire & Mercury here are Fire & Water, & the ſame Fire &
Mercury are the Mature & Crude parts, of which the crude are to be matured by
Coction, or the mature to be purged from ſuperfluities by the aſſiſtance of Water.
29
But we ſhall in ſhort demonſtrate that theſe two Fires & theſe two Mercuries are
principally & ſolely neceſſary to the completion of the Art. Empedocles was of
opinion that the Principles of all things were Friendſhip & Diſcord. That
corruptions were made by Variance, and generations by Love. This Diſcord is
manifeſtly apparent in Fire & Water, Fire making Water evaporate & Water
extinguiſhing Fire when applied to it.
But it is likewiſe plain that generations will proceed from theſe ſame things by a
certain Friendſhip. For by heat is made new generation of Air, & by the ſame Heat
that induration of Water into the Stone is performed, & ſo from theſe two as the
firſt Elements are made the other two, & conſequently from thence the production
of all things. Water was the Matter of Heaven & all Corporeal things. Fire as the
Form moves & informs this matter, ſo this Water or Mercury yields the Matter &
Fire or Sulphur the Form. That theſe two may operate & mutually move
themſelves by Solution, Coagulation, Alteration, Tinction & Perfection, there will
be a Neceſſity of external Helps, as inſtruments without which, no effect can
follow. For as a Smith cannot Work without Hammers & Fire, ſo neither can the
Philoſopher without his inſtruments, which are Water & Fire.
This Water is by ſome called the Water of Clouds, as this Fire is called Occaſioned
Fire. It is without doubt called the Water of Clouds becauſe it is diſtilled as May
Dew, & conſiſts of moſt thin parts. For as it is affirmed that May Dew being
encloſed in the Shell of a Egg will raiſe it up by the Heat of the Sun, ſo this Water
of the Clouds, or Dew, makes the Philoſopher's Egg aſcend, that is, Sublimes,
Exalts & Perfects it. The ſame Water is alſo moſt ſharp Vinegar, which makes the
body a mere Spirit. For as Vinegar has different qualities & can penetrate to the
bottom & bind, ſo this Water diſſolves & coagulates, but is not coagulated, becauſe
it is not of a proper Subject. The Water is had from the Fountain of Parnaſſus,
which, contrary to the Nature of other fountains, is upon the Top of the Hill made
the Hoof of the flying Horſe Pegaſus.
There muſt alſo be actual Fire, which, notwithſtanding, muſt be governed &
qualified by its degrees as with Bridles. For as the Sun proceeding from Aries into
Leo, & ſo approaching nearer, gradually increaſeth heat to things growing, ſo it is
here neceſſary to be done, for the Philoſophical Infant muſt be nouriſhed by Fire as
with Milk, & the more plentiful that is, the more he grows.
30
EMBLEMA XI.
Dealbate Latonam & rumpite libros.
(Whiten Latona and tear your books.)
E PIGRAMMA XI.
Latonæ ſobolem non novit nemo gemellam,
(Ceu fert fama uetus) quæ Iove nata fuit.
Hunc alii tradunt cum Luna lumina Solis
Mixta, nigræ cui sint in facie macùlæ.
Latonam ergo pares albeſcere, damnaque dantes
Ambiguos, adſit nec mora, rumpe libros.
31
D ISCOURSE XI.
There are ſuch great differences amongſt authors that ſuch perſons as ſearch after
Truth deſpair of finding any end of this Art. For Allegorical diſcourſes being in
themſelves hard to underſtand are the Cauſe of many Errors, eſpecially as the ſame
words are applied to different thinges and different words to the ſame thinges.
Whoever would free himſelf from theſe difficultyes muſt either have a divine
Genius to perceive Truth through much darkneſſe, or he muſt have inexhauſtible
wealth and patience to find through experiment what is True and what is not.
But according to the Philoſophers one will not do without the other; ingenuity will
do nothing without labour, and vice verſa. For no man can have underſtanding
enough to avoid a hundred thouſand errors, obſcurityes, digreſſions, ambiguityes,
and yet ſtill perſiſt in the true part of Nature. Wherefore the Philoſophers ſay, he
that hath not yet Erred hath not yet begun, and that Errors teach us what to do
and what not. And they likewiſe affirm that a man may ſpend his whole life
(though if it were poſſible he ſhould live a thouſand years) in diſtilling and
rediſtilling before he could attain to truth by experiments only. The Corrector of
Fools intimates that no progreſs can be made without ſtudy and reading of
Authors, for he ſays ſtudy removes ignorance and brings human underſtanding to
the true Knowledge of everything. It is therefore neceſſary in this work to quicken
the ingenuity by naturall Philoſophye, the knowledge of Truth being contained in
it. Let not therefore operators deſpiſe ſtudy. But as for thoſe who are averſe to it yet
willing to operate, let them take care that their Art be the Imitation of Nature itſelf,
which Art deſires to amend becauſe it is impoſſible for Her to prepare the
Philoſophickal ſecrets to a perfect End. The wiſe ſay of theſe men that they run to
practice as an Aſs to Hay, not knowing what he puts his noſe to, led to his food by
his ſight and taſte, to wit his exterior ſenſes, without any underſtanding. And ſo far
goes this Author.
But leaſt a man ſhould vex himſelf with overmuch ſtudy, which is an immenſe and
profound Sea, and would bring every word (which perhaps may relate to quite
another thinge) into practice thereby waſting and conſuming his ſtrength, time,
reputation, and riches, the Philoſophers uſe this Emblematicall ſpeech, That
Latona muſt be whitened and their books muſt be torn leaſt their Hearts be
broken. For moſt books are ſo obſcurely written that they can only be underſtood
by their Authors; indeed, ſeverall of them are left out of Envy to ſeduce others, or
rather to retard them in their Courſe, that they may not attain to their end without
difficulty, or to obſcure thoſe thinges which they themſelves had written before.
32
But the chief work and labour is how to whiten Latona. The book called Clangor
Buccinæ defines Latona as an Imperfect Body of Sol and Luna. The moſt Ancient
Poets and writers affirm Latona to be the Mother of Apollo and Diana; others call
her their Nurſe, and ſtate that Diana was brought forth firſt (for Luna and
whiteneſſe do firſt appear), who afterwards but the ſame day performed the office
of a Midwife in bringing forth Apollo her brother. For Latona was one of the
twelve Hieroglyphicall Gods of the Ægyptians by whom theſe and other
Allegoryes were propagated among other Nations. Very few even of their
Ægyptian Prieſts knew the true ſenſe and meaning of them, the remainder of the
People applying them to other Subjects that were not in the Nature of thinges,
namely Gods, Goddeſſes and the like. Wherefore Latona had the moſt ſumptuous
Temple next to Vulcan adorned with gold becauſe ſhe was the mother of the
Philoſophickal Apollo and Diana.
But this Latona is brown and blackiſh, and hath many moles in her Face, which
muſt be taken away by Dealbation or blanching. Some make their dealbations of
Ceruſe, Sublimate Mercury, Talc reduced to Oyle and the like, by which they
encruſt, cover and ſo would whiten the outſide of her ſkin. But the whitening
encruſtations fall off by every wind or liquor, becauſe they do not penetrate the
inward parts, and ſo deceiving only their eyes by their falſe Colours are not
regarded well by the Philoſophers. For the Philoſophers would have Latona's face
made white by penetration and by altering the ſkin itſelf, that is truly and not
ſuperficially or by colouring alone. You may aſk how this can be done? I anſwer,
Latona muſt firſt be ſought out and known, which though ſhe be drawn from a
Vile place, yet ſhe muſt be ſublimed to one more worthy. But if ſhe be taken from a
more worthy place, ſhe is to be ſubmerſed in a place more vile- that is, into Dung.
For there indeed ſhe grows white and becomes white lead, which being obtained
there is no doubt of ſucceſs; for from White Lead proceeds the Red Lead, which is
the beginning and End of the Work.
33
EMBLEMA XII.
Lapis, quem Saturnus, pro Ioue filio devoratum, euomuit,
pro monumento in Helicone mortalibus eſt poſitus.
(The Stone which Saturn vomited up, being devoured inſtead of his Son Jupiter,
is placed on the Helicon as a Monument to Men.)
E PIGRAMMA XII.
Noſſe cupis cauſam, tot cur Helcona Poëtæ
Dicant, quodque eius cuique petendus apex?
Est Lapis in ſummo, Monumentum, uertice poſtus,
Pro Ioue deglutiit quem uomuitque pater.
Si ceu uerba ſonant rem captas, mens tibi læua est,
Namque est Saturni Chemicus ille Lapis.
34
D ISCOURSE XII.
We find the Allegorye of Saturn to be taken diverſe ways, for the Aſtronomers
reputed him the Higheſt of the Planets, and the ſtudents of chemiſtry the baſeſt of
metalls, namely lead. The Heathen Poets ſay he was the Father of Jupiter, the Son
of Heaven. The Mythologiſts explain him by the notion of Time. But though all
theſe may ſeem to have a probable opinion according to their own ſenſe, yet they
will never be able to explain certain thinges which are elſewhere ſpoken of Saturn;
ſuch as why he ſhould devour his Sons and Vomit up a Stone inſtead of Jupiter. Or
why he ſhould be the Finder Out or Diſcoverer of Truth; why he ſhould be
remarkable for his Scythe and Serpent, or his Blackneſſe, moroſeneſs and diſtorted
feet. The Mythologiſts think they give the beſt interpretation when they ſay Time
reveals and manifeſts Truth out of Darkneſſe, that it rolls itſelf around and glides
away like a Serpent, and that it cuts all thinges down with Death as with a Scythe.
That he devours his Sons, to wit all beings that he ever begot, but that he cannot
conſume or digeſt hard Stones, and therefore may be ſaid to Vomit them up again.
Theſe may in part have ſome reſemblance to the Truth, but they do not agree in the
Truth of the thinges in all its Circumſtances. But the experienced Philoſophers ſay
that Saturn is firſt in their work, and that if he be really preſent they cannot Err, for
Truth is diſcovered in darkneſſe, and nothing comes into exiſtence without
blackneſſe. Wherefore they ſay in the Turba Philoſophorum, whatever Colour
comes after blackneſſe is praiſeworthy, becauſe it is the beginning of the Work.
And the Roſary out of Arnoldus ſays, when it firſt glows black we ſay it is the Key
of the Work, becauſe that cannot be made without blackneſſe. And out of the
Speculum when you are working ſee that in the beginning you obtain a black
colour, for then you will be certain that you cauſe putrefaction and proceed in the
right method. And again, that blackneſſe is cold Earth which is made by a light
decoction and is often reiterated till blackneſſe be moſt eminent. Hence they ſay
that Saturn poſſeſſed the Earth, Mercury the Water, Jupiter the Air, Sol the FireBlackneſſe therefore is Saturn, the Diſcoverer of Truth who devours a Stone inſtead
of Jupiter. For Blackneſſe is a dark cloud covering the Stone at firſt ſo that it cannot
be ſeen.
Thence Morienus ſays each body that wants a Soul is dark and obſcure. And
Hermes preſcribes thus, Take his brain and wear or rub it with Sharpeſt Vinegar or
Urine of Boys till it becomes dark. This being performed he lives in putrefaction,
and the dark clouds that were upon him and in his Body before he died are
returned. This Stone is again caſt up by Saturn when he becomes White, and then
it is placed upon the Top of Helicon as a Monument to Mortals, as Heſiod writes.
35
For Whiteneſſe is really hid in blackneſſe, which is extracted out of his belly, that
is, out of the Stomach of Saturn. Therefore ſaith Democritus, Cleanſe Tin with a
ſpeciall abſolution, extract from it its blackneſſe and obſcurity, and the whiteneſſe
of it will appear. And in the Turba it is ſaid join the Dry with the moiſt, that is the
black earth with its water, and decoct it till it becomes white. Arnold in his work
called Novum Lumen, chapter 4, very well expreſſes the ſame thinge when he
ſays, That moiſture therefore which cured the blackneſſe in the decoction ſhows
itſelf to be dried up when the white Colour begins to appear. And a little after:
And my Maſter ſaid to me that Browneſſe aſcended becauſe the whiteneſſe was
drawn out of the Belly of the Blackneſſe, as is ſaid in the Turba. For when you ſee it
black, know that whiteneſſe is hid in the belly of the blackneſſe firſt appearing.
As this blackneſſe is called Saturn, ſo it is likewiſe called Lead. Thence Agadimon
in the Turba ſays decoct the æs or braſſe till the blackneſſe which they call money
comes forth, and mix well the materials of our Art, and then you will preſently
find blackneſſe, which is the Lead of the Philoſophers ſo much ſpoken of in their
books. Emigamus has relation to this when he ſays that the Splendour of Saturn
when he aſcends into the Air appears no otherwiſe then Darkened. And ſo Plato in
the Roſary: The firſt Regimen of Saturn is to putrefye and put it upon Sol. From all
of which it is evident that the ſenſe of the Philoſophers when they ſpeak of Saturn
is quite different from the Vulgar acceptation. This Saturn generates Jupiter which
is an obſcure Whitneſſe, and Jupiter begets upon Latona firſt Diana which is
perfect Whiteneſſe, and then Apollo which is Redneſſe. And this is the ſucceſſive
permutation of perfect Colours. This Stone caſt up by Saturn is ſaid to be placed
upon the Top of a mountein as a monument for men, which is a thinge moſt True.
36
EMBLEMA XIII.
Æs Philoſophorum hydropicum eſt, & uult lauati ſepties in fluuio,
ut Naaman leproſus in Iordane.
(The Philoſophers’ Braſſe is Dropſicall and deſires to be waſhed ſeven times in a River,
as Naaman the Leper was in Jordan.)
E PIGRAMMA XIII.
Prætumido languens æs turget hydrope Sophorum,
Inde ſalutiferas appetit illud aquas.
Unque Naman Iordane lepræ contigia mouit,
Abluitur lymphis terque quaterque ſuis:
Ergo præcipites in aquam tua corpora dulcem,
Moxque feret morbis illa ſalutis opem.
D ISCOURSE XIII.
That Namaan the Syrian ſhould at the Prophet's command take a journey into
Judea to waſh himſelf ſeven times in the River of Jordan is to be aſcribed to the
confidence he placed in the Prophet's words. But that he was freed from Leproſy
37
by that waſhing is a miracle of the Divine Omnipotence. For the Leproſy, being
ſeated in the blood and radical parts of a man's body, is as it were an univerſall
Canker, which cannot be taken away or cured by any externall waſhing, much
leſſe by cold water ſuch as that of the Jordan.
So likewiſe that the Philoſophers’ Braſſe, labouring under the diſeaſe of a Dropſie,
ſhould be freed from it by waſhings of water, and that even an imperfect thinge
ſhould be made perfect and a ſick thinge healthy, and that to ſo great a degree as
to be able to impart its health to ſick bodyes, muſt be next to a Miracle. For ſuch an
example is not elſewhere extant in Nature; nor is it indeed the ordinary courſe of
Nature to produce the Philoſophers’ moſt abſolute Tincture unleſſe it be governed
by Art, and fit ſubjects be adminiſtered to it with the externall efficient. So the
reſtitution of luxations, that is, thinges diſlocated or out of Joint, is not peculiar to
Nature but to Art. Nevertheleſſe, the Os Sacrum opens itſelf miraculouſly at the
birth of a Child, that the Infant may come forth thereby as through a door, and in
this the moſt great and mercifull God operates by Nature above Nature.
So that the Stone ſhould be perfected ſeems a thinge ſupernaturall though it really
be Naturall. From whence the Roſary: You muſt know, ſays he, that our Airy and
Volatile Stone, according to that which is manifeſt and apparent, is cold and moiſt,
but according to that which is occult and hidden, is hot and dry. And that
coldneſſe and moiſture which is manifeſt and is a Watery Fume, corrupting,
blackening, and deſtroying itſelf, flees from it by the Fire. But the Heat and
dryneſſe which is occult is Hot and dry Gold and a moſt pure Oile able to
penetrate bodyes, and is in no way Fugitive, becauſe the Heat and dryneſſe of
Alchemy tingeth, and no other thinge whatever. See therefore that the coldneſſe
and moiſture which is manifeſt be equall to the heat and dryneſſe which is in the
Occult, ſo that they may both agree and be joined together, being at once made
one penetrating, Tingeing and Fixing Body.
But theſe moiſtures muſt be deſtroyed by Fire and degrees of Fire with a ſoft
Temperament and an agreeable and moderate Digeſtion. If this be True, how ſhall
it be from waters? It may be anſwered, there are certain Waters of Hot and dry
qualityes, ſuch as are many Baths, in which it muſt be Philoſophically waſhed. For
this is the meaning of what they ſay, waſh with fire and burn with water, for that
Fire which waſhes and that water which burns differ in Name only, but agree in
effect and operation. Therefore with this water or this Fire the Philoſophickal Æs
or Braſſe muſt be waſhed from its ſuperfluous Humors: that is, it muſt be dried.
We have known Experiments of Dropſicall Bodyes cured by ſix months abſtention
from all manner of Drink; or by burying them in Hot ſand and Cow dung, or by
putting them into a Hot Furnace and letting them ſweat, and innumerable other
38
helps as likewiſe by drying Baths ſuch as thoſe of Carlſbad or Wieſbaden. By the
ſame methods muſt this patient be cured; ſometimes by waters, ſometimes by the
Hot Air of Furnaces; now with Cow dung, then with Sand and Abſtinence from
Drinking. For theſe are the moſt effectuall Remedyes in both Caſes, ſome at one
time are to be uſed and ſome at another. But in all theſe thinges Heat is the
Operator which, by the Emunctoria or pores of the Body, draws out the
ſuperfluous waters. For the outward heat quickens the inward, that is the Vitall
ſpirits, that they may expell that moiſture which is hurtfull to them as an
unprofitable excrement, by which the Naturall Heat was before ſuppreſſed as by
an Enemy.
In this Cure there is need of great diligence and precaution, leaſt whilſt one bowell
is relieved another may be hurt. In a Quartan (which according to the Platoniſts
will try the ſkill of a Phyſitian) we have experienced that thick Viſcous humor, like
the Gum or Glue of Trees, being gathered together from all the veins or Maſſe of
blood, and deſcending through the Vena Cava or great Vein even to the bottom of
the back, where it obſtructs the emulgent Veins which draw the ſerous matter out
of the blood or the paſſages of them. Thus they are leſſe able to operate, and more
of the ſerous matter remains in the Body, and ſo in a ſhort time if care be not taken
a Dropſie may happen, the other Bowell being in no way hurt at the firſt. Here
Diuretica do little or no good, Purgatives yet leſſe unleſſe Diminution or eduction
be made in ſome certain ſeries of time. Sudorificks manifeſtly do harm becauſe
they draw out the more ſubtile parts and leave the thicker, and if they are
continued will weaken the body, for Nature's cuſtom is to find that way of
evacuating the ſerous matter through the Pores only when ſhe is obſtructed about
the Bladder. One therefore is Scylla, the other is Charybdis, both of which he that
ſhall hath a mind to preſerve himſelf ought to avoid.
That Dropſie which proceeds from an impaired Liver or ſpleen is the moſt difficult
to be cured; but in the Philoſophickal Braſſe the Cure is not impoſſible, the
diſtemper being rather by Accident and ſecondary than Eſſentiall and primary.
This is provided it be undertaken cautiouſly, as we have ſaid concerning the
plenty of Serum in a Quartan, to wit that it may not by too much excitation fall
into a Conſumption or by too much moiſture fall into ſuch a Dropſie as may be
difficult to be Cured.
39
EMBLEMA XIV.
Hic eſt Draco caudam ſuam devorans.
(This is the Dragon that devours his Tayle.)
E PIGRAMMA XIV.
Dira fames Polypos docuit ſua rodere crura,
Humanaque homines ſe nutriiſſe dape.
Dente Draco caudam dum mordet & ingeret aluo,
Magnâ parte sui fit cibus ipſe ſibi.
Ille domandus erit ferro, fame, carcere, donec
Se uoert & reuomat, se necet & pariat.
40
D ISCOURSE XIV.
It is the ſaying of the Ancients that a Serpent that has devoured a Serpent becomes
a Dragon, for like a Thief or a Murderer it preys upon its own kind. There were
ſuch Serpents in Africa, of a vaſt bigneſſe and in great numbers, which devoured
part of Alexander's Army- the larger are bred among the Aſchæans, a people of
Ethiopia, which being placed together after the manner of herds do with their
heads erected make their way to better Paſtures. It is reported that the Kings of
India nouriſhed two Dragons, one of eighty the other of ninety Cubits in bigneſſe.
It is remarked by the obſervations of later writers of theſe times that there are
ſerpents found near Angola which equall the main maſt of ſhips. So there is a
report that in ſome mounteins of India and Africa there is greatneſſe of gold, but
that it is kept by Dragons leaſt any perſon ſhould come and take it away. For at the
founteins or Rivulets which fall from the mounteins the Dragons meet, and ſo by
Accident are ſaid to keep watch over the gold encloſed in them.
For this reaſon do the Philoſophers aſſign ſo many Dragons to their Treaſury, as to
the Golden Fleece, the Garden of the Heſperides, and the others perſons or
chymicall ſubjects ſuch as Cadmus, Saturn, Æſculapius and Mercury, whoſe
Caduceum is bound with two ſerpents, a male and female. For they mean nothing
elſe by Dragons but Chymicall ſubjects. Hence they ſay, Dant Rebis montes
dracones terraque fontes: Dragons to Rebis do give mounteins, And the earth does
give him Founteins. And they denote his extreme hunger by his devouring his
Tayle, which though ſome may interpret this as the year returning into itſelf and
reſembling a Circle, yet it was firſt applied to their work by the Philoſophers, who
by this Dragon would have ſuch a Serpent underſtood as devours another of its
own kind, and which is properly called Sulphur, as all of them Atteſt in
innumerable places.
Thus Lully ſays in his Codicillus, chapter 31: This my ſon (ſaith he) is Sulphur, and
this the Serpent and Dragon devouring his Tayle, the rearing Lyon and ſharp
ſword cutting, mortifying and tearing all thinges. And the Roſary ſays the Dragon
does not dye unleſſe he be killed with his Brother and Siſter. And a little after: the
Dragon is Argent Vive, extracted out of Bodyes, having in itſelf a Body, Soul and
Spirit. This in the ſame place by another Name is called Stinking Water, which is
to be had after the ſeparation of the Elements. Now the Dragon is ſaid to devour
his Tayle when he conſumes the Voluble, Venomous and moiſt part, ſo that
afterwards being without a Tayle he may ſeem more corpulent and ſlower, as if
his Motion and Volubility had in a great meaſure conſiſted in his Tayle.
41
Other animalls move upon their Feet, but Serpents, Dragons and ſuch like
Vermine uſe the conſtriction and explication of their bodyes inſtead of feet, and
like flowing water incline themſelves ſometimes this way, ſometimes that, as may
be ſeen in moſt Rivers which run obliquely in Circuits and turn their courſes like
Serpents. The Philoſophers therefore did not without reaſon call Argent Vive by
the Name of a Serpent and give Serpents to Mercury, ſeeing that alſo does as it
were draw its Tayle and run ſometimes this way and ſometimes another with a
Voluble Weight. For as a Serpent moves ſo alſo does Mercury, who therefore has
Wings upon his feet and Head. It is reported that in Africa there are flying
Serpents which would depopulate all places if they were not deſtroyed by the Bird
called Ibis. Wherefore Ibis is placed among the ſacred Images of the Ægyptians, as
much for the manifeſt good that it does to the whole Country as for a ſecret reaſon
which very few of them underſtand.
This Dragon having devoured his Tayle and caſt his Old Skin is ſaid to acquire
both a new ſkin and new youthfulneſſe; thus Nature has granted longer life not
only to Crows, Ravens, Eagles and Larks but likewiſe to the Race of Serpents. The
Ant when it grows old has wings; ſo have many other Worms. Man growing old is
put into the Earth, but brought upward from the Earth is conſecrated to Eternall
Life.
There is a powder made of Every Serpent when it is burnt which is ſafely taken
againſt all poiſons, and that with very good Effect. Such an Alexipharmacum
ought alſo to be made of this Dragon when he hath devoured his Tayle (which is
likewiſe uſually cut off in Vipers) and it will prove a moſt effectuall and preſent
Remedy againſt the adverſityes of Body and Fortune.
42
Emblema XV.
Opus figuli, conſiſtens in ſicco & humido, te doceat.
(Let the work of the Potter, conſiſting of dryneſſe and moiſture, inſtruct you.)
E PIGRAMMA XV.
Aſpice quàm celeri figulus ſua uaſa figuret
Axe rotæ, argillam dum pede miſcet aquæ:
In binis illi eſt fiducia rebus, ut humor
Pulueribus ſiccis temperet arte ſitim.
Sic quoque tu facies exemplo doctior isto,
Terram aqu ne ſuperet, nec ſuperetur humo.
43
D ISCOURSE XV.
As this terreſtrial Orb is made into one Round Body by a complication of Earth
and Water, ſo likewiſe the Potter's work ſeems to be compounded of the ſame
particular Elements; that is, the Dry and the Moiſt, ſo that one may temper the
other. For if the Earth ſhould be without Water and no Ocean, Sea, Lake, River or
Fountein ſhould be near it, the earth could bring forth nothing of itſelf but muſt
perpetually remain unfruitfull. So if water ſhould not be received into the cavities
of the Earth but ſtand round about it, it would eaſily cover the whole face of it and
ſo it would remain uninhabitable. But one entering amicably into the other, and
water moderating the dryneſſe of the Earth and Earth the moiſture of the Water,
by a mutual commixture the Fruitfulneſſe and advantages of both Elements do
very ſpeedily appear.
In like manner the Potter mixes Clay with Water, and that ſo he may make the
maſſe tractable which he ſhapes upon his wheel, and he ſets it in warm Air ſo it
may drye leiſurely. Then he adds the Violence of Fire, that his veſſells may be well
hardened and condenſed into a durable Stone which can reſiſt both Water and
Fire. So the Philoſophers ſay we muſt proceed in the naturall work, and they
therefore ſet the Potter before us as an example; for it is certain as to the dry and
moiſt, that is the Earth and Water, that they have a very great Affinity. But there is
alſo no doubt they have many differences in their way of Coction and in the
matter and form of the Elements that are to be compounded. For the Potter's
Veſſells have a Form that's artificiall, but the Philoſophick Tincture has one that is
altogether Naturall and ſo much Nobler than Theirs, as alſo the matter of it is more
excellent than theirs. Each of them is indeed the Work of Earth, but there is
nothing ſaid to be in the Philoſophickal which hath not aſcended and attained to
the Heaven of Air, whereas in the other a thick and foeculent Earth is
predominant. The effect of both is a Stone- this a Common, that a Philoſophickal
one.
By which ſimilarities a certain Perſon being ſeduced put a great Number of
Artificiall Stones or Tiles into one cheſt and the whiter ſort of flints into another,
uſing diabolicall conjurations over them that one might be turned into Silver, the
other into pure Gold. But when theſe were imagined to be the Stones of the
Philoſophers, and after a great ſum of money has been expended in purchaſing
ſeverall thinges, the new gold and ſilver which were expected at a certain time did
not appear, and none of the Stones as it was hoped received converſion. Death
came very opportunely to put an end to his ſhame and Folly; for Gold and Silver is
not to be ſought for in the thinge wherein they are not implanted by Nature, and
44
Diabolicall magick is ſo far from having any place in theſe works that it is as
diſtant from them as the Author of ſuch acts is from a devout and pious man, or as
Hell from Heaven.
So although a man ſhould have the True Philoſophickal Stone, yet let not any one
imagine that impoſſibilities can be performed by it, as Iſaac admoniſhes us: no
man by Law of Nature or Policy can be bound to thinges impoſſible. As for the
Tranſmutation of Gems and making Glaſſe able to endure the Hammer, any man
may know whether they are poſſible by inveſtigating if they are agreeable to
Nature. Geber affirms concerning the Philoſophers that they ſpeak many thinges
by allegoryes; and he ſays of himſelf, that when he has ſpoken clearly he has ſaid
nothing, but when under a figure, there he has hid the Truth as Wheat under
Chaff.
Thoſe thinges which a man ſows, the ſame he ſhall reap, which ſaying takes place
in vegetables and Animalls, though different ſpecies may ſometimes proceed from
the thinges ſowed. But whether theſe thinges ought to be applied to Mettalls,
which are not propagated by ſeed, is worthy of conſideration. In theſe the parts are
only Homogenous, as Sulphur and Argent Vive; in thoſe they are Heterogeneous
or organicall. In theſe are no receptacles of ſeed; in thoſe there are. In theſe is found
no Nutrition, Augmentation or Extenſion into all Dimenſions; but thoſe have them
all to the greateſt degree. Laſtly, theſe are Elemented Weights admitting nothing
elſe but mixture: whereas they beſides Mixture have alſo a Vegetative or ſenſitive
Soul. Nevertheleſſe it is True without doubt that there is ſomething in places
under the Earth which as yet is not Gold, but by nature will become gold after a
thouſand years. And who will deny this to be the Analogicall Seed of Gold? Both
Gold and the Aurifick Nature are of one originall, though the latter be of the more
Noble form; and therefore the ſeed of Gold being known, the ſeed of the other will
likewiſe be known. The Philoſophers affirm that it is the Dry and Moiſt that is
Sulphur and Argent Vive, and that it is to be extracted out of two Mounteins in
the greateſt Purity.
45
Emblema XVI.
Hic Lèo, quas plumas non habet, alter habet.
(One Lyon hath wings and the other hath none.)
E PIGRAMMA XVI.
Victor quadrupedum Leo pectore fortis & ungue
Abſque metu pugnat, diſſimulatque fugam:
Aligeram cui tu pedibus coniunge Leænam,
Quæ uolat & ſecum uult releuare marem:
Ille ſed immotus ſtat humo, retinetque uolantem,
Hæc tibi naturæ moſstret imago uiam.
46
D ISCOURSE XVI.
It is a thinge known by experience that a Lyon does not ſo much excell other
animalls either in bigneſſe and ſtrength of body as in the generouſneſſe of his
Nature. When he is hunted, being aſhamed to run away, he makes his retreat
leiſurely if he finds himſelf oppreſſed by multitudes; when he is out of the view of
his Purſuers he makes haſte away, thinking the baſeneſſe of his flight is atoned for
by his endeavour to conceal it. He leaps upon the Prey that He follows, but He
never uſes that motion in his retreat. His bones are ſolid, without any vacuity, and
are ſaid to be ſo hard that Fire will be ſtruck out of two of them as from a Steel and
Flint. He fears Fire above all thinges. He ſeems to derive his Subſtance from the
Nature of the Sun, for in force and heat he excells other animalls as the Sun doth
the Starrs. He always appears with fiery and open Eyes, as the Sun beholds the
Earth with an open fiery Eye.
A Lyoneſſe fighting for her whelps fixes her Eyes upon the Ground, leaſt ſhe
ſhould be afrighted at the Hunter's ſpear. When the Lyon perceives the coition of
the Panther he takes revenge upon the Lyoneſſe for Adultery and inflicts ſevere
puniſhment. She therefore waſhes away the ſcent in a River, or being conſcious of
her offence doth follow the Adulterer flying for fear of the Mate.
The Philoſophers therefore obſerving the wonderfull Nature of this Beaſt have
made diverſe Allegories from Him, which they uſe as ſo many Hieroglyphicall
writings relating to their ſecret work. And finding the Lyon to be a firm and
conſtant animall void of deceit himſelf- and conſequently of ſuſpicion of othersthey reſemble the beſt part of their Philoſophickal work to ſo noble a Character.
For as he flyes not, ſo neither does that; as his bones are ſolid, ſo that is fixed and
knows no Conqueror. But as the Lyoneſſe is not always innocent and free from
Adultery, ſo neither is Luna or Mercury without ſome ſpot or blemiſh, but by the
Ignorant is joined ſometimes to one ſometimes to another ſort of Matter, from
whence an adulterous conjunction of thinges different in Nature may be ſaid to
proceed, rather than a true Matrimony to be contracted. For the products of the
Lyoneſſe and the Leopard have no comely Manes about their Neck and ſhoulders,
which is the ſignall Ornament of the Lyon's legitimate offſpring. Therefore let the
Philoſophickal Lyoneſſe be joined to her proper Male, and there will be born a
whelp that is genuine and generous, which may eaſily be known by his paw. But
this ſhould not be any ſort of Lyoneſſe, but one that has wings, which may be able
to fight and conteſt with the Lyon as relying upon the ſwiftneſſe of her plumes that
ſhe may not be ſuppreſſed by the violence of his wrath, but may be prepared for
flight if at any time he become furious without juſt reaſon. For when ſhe is about
47
to flye away and He retards her, He is incited with a greater Love towards her,
and a firmer friendſhip is contracted after ſuch a Variance.
But you will aſk, whoever ſaw a Lyoneſſe with wings? Or what uſe can be made of
her plumes? There is a deep Valley near the Mountein Cythæronem in which are
ſeen none but flying Lyoneſſes. But to the Top of that Mountein there reſorts a Red
Lyon, of the ſame kind as that which was ſlain by Hercules. The Lyon therefore
muſt be taken and brought into the valley, and then immediately He will be
coupled with the winged Lyoneſſe. She alſo will eaſily ſuffer herſelf to be
overcome, becauſe like will be ſeduced by like. Afterwards they muſt both be
advanced out the ſaid Valley to the Top of the Mountein, and henceforth they will
never deſert one another but will always remain together in inviolable wedlock.
The taking of theſe Lyons I confeſſe is not eaſy, but Lyable to many dangers. But
nevertheleſſe it muſt be attempted. A Lyon feeds not with the Lyoneſſe, but
wanders apart as Tradition relates; therefore they are to be ſought and hunted for
in different places. But if theſe two Lyons can be taken when they are Whelps,
when their Claws firſt appear and they begin to walke which is two months after
their Birth, then afterwards they may be joined upon their coming to riper Age,
and the whole matter will be effected without any danger. But they are born in the
Spring time, which requires the cloſeſt obſervation; ſeeing the Lyons after
whelping uſe croſſe and winding wayes leaſt their Den ſhould be found out, great
Care and diligence muſt be uſed to ſeek them and deprive them of their whelps.
48
Emblema XVII.
Orbita quadruplex hoc regit ignis opus.
(Four Orbs govern this work of fire.)
E PIGRAMMA XVII.
Naturæ qui imitaris opus, tibi quattuor orbes
Quærendi, interius quos leuis ignis agat.
Imus Vulcanum referat, bene monstret at alter
Mercurium, Lunam tertius orbis habet:
Quartus, Apollo, tuus, naturæ auditur & ignis,
Ducat in arte manus illa catena tuas.
49
D ISCOURSE XVII.
The Philoſophers in many places make mention of four ſorts of fire neceſſary to the
Naturall work, namely Lully, the Author of the Scala, Ripley, and many others.
The Scala ſays that Raymund ſpeaks thus of fires: It is to be remarked that here lye
contrary operations, becauſe as the fire contrary to Nature doth diſſolve the ſpirit
of a fixed body into the water of a Cloud, and binds the body of a volatile Spirit
into a congealed Earth, ſo contrarywiſe the fire of Nature congeals the diſſolved
ſpirit of a fixed body into a Globular Earth, and reſolves the body of the volatile
Spirit fixed by the fire contrary to Nature, not into the water of a Cloud, but into
Philoſophickal water.
Ripley ſpeaks more clearly of theſe fires.
Gate 3, Stanza 15:
Foure Fyers there be whych you muſt underſtond,
Naturall, Innaturall, againſt Nature, alſoe
Elementall whych doth bren the brond.
Theſe foure Fyers uſe we and no mo:
Fyre againſt Nature muſt doe thy bodyes wo;
That ys our Dragon as I thee tell,
Ferſely brennyng as Fyre of Hell.
16. Fyre of Nature ys the thyrd Menſtruall,
That Fyre ys naturally in every thyng;
But Fyre occaſionat we call Innaturall,
And hete of Aſkys and balnys for putrefying:
Wythout theſe Fyres thou may not bryng
To Putrefaccyon for to be ſeperat,
Thy matters togeather proportyonat.
17. Therefore make Fyre thy Glaſſe wythin,
Whych brennyth the Bodyes more then Fyre
Elementall; yf thou wylt wyn
Our Secret accordyng to thy deſyre
Then ſhall thy ſeeds both roote and ſpyre,
By help of Fyre Occaſionat,
That kyndly after they may ſeparat.
They are called Fires becauſe they have a Fiery Virtue; the Naturall in coagulating,
the Unnatural in Diſſolving, The Fire againſt Nature in corrupting and the
Elementary in adminiſtering heat and the firſt motion. And there is an order
obſerved in them like that of a Chain, that the ſecond may be incited to action by
the firſt, the third by the ſecond, and the fourth by the third and firſt, ſo that one be
both Agent and Patient in a different reſpect. That which is obſerved of Iron rings
held together by a Magnet and joined by mutuall contact may be ſeen likewiſe in
theſe Fires. For the Elementary like a magnet doth ſend forth its virtue through the
50
ſecond and third even into the fourth, and joins one to the other by mutuall
operations, and cauſes them to cohere together till internall action be effected
amongſt the uppermoſt. The firſt is Elementary Fire both in Name and ſubſtance,
the ſecond is æriall or volatile, the third is watery or of the Nature of Luna, the
fourth is Earthy. There is no need of ſpeaking of the firſt becauſe it is preſent to
every man's ſight and feeling. The other three are the Dragons, Menſtruums,
Waters, Sulphurs or Mercuryes. Dragons becauſe partaking of venom they devour
Serpents of their own race and alter whatever bodyes are mixed with them, that is,
diſſolve and coagulate them. They are called Menſtruums becauſe the
Philoſophers’ Infant is produced and nouriſhed from them till the time of his
Birth. Lully in his book of Quinta Eſſentia, verſe 3, has a double menſtruum, a
Vegetable and a Minerall. Ripley in the preface to his Gates has three which agree
and are but one in reality. For the generation of the Infant is made from them all,
and white water precedes its birth which is not of the ſubſtance but of the
ſuperfluity of the Infant, and therefore is to be ſeparated.
They are waters becauſe in Fire they ſhow a watery Nature, that is they flow and
are liquid which are propertyes of water. It is certain that the propertyes of Water
are diverſe and wonderfull, ſome whereof do petrifye, being coagulated into hard
ſtones ſuitable for building. Not unlike theſe are the minerall waters of the
Philoſophers, which grow harder and turn into a ſtony reſiſtance.
They are likewiſe called Sulphur from the Sulphurous virtue which they have in
them. For the Sulphur of Nature is mixed and made one with the other Sulphur,
and the two Sulphurs are diſſolved by one, and one is ſeparated by two and the
Sulphurs are contained by the Sulphurs, as Yximidius ſays in the Turba. Now
what Sulphurs are Dardaris in the ſame place declares in theſe words: Sulphurs
are ſouls hidden in the four Elements, which being extracted by Art do naturally
contain one another and are joined together. But if you can by water govern and
well purifye that which is hidden in the Belly of the Sulphur, that hidden thinge
meeting with its own Nature rejoineth it, even as water with its like. Moſius alſo
ſayeth: I will now tell you what it is. One indeed is Argent Vive and that Fiery, the
ſecond is a Body compounded in it, the third is the water of Sulphur by which it is
firſt waſhed, corroded and governed till the whole work is perfected. What has
been ſaid of Sulphurs, the ſame muſt be underſtood of ſo many Mercuryes, for ſo
ſays the ſame Moſius: Argent Vive, Cambar, is Magneſia, but Argent Vive or
Orpiment is Sulphur, which aſcends from a mixed compound. But I ſhall produce
no more Teſtimonyes becauſe they are infinite. Theſe four Fires are included in
four Orbs or Spheres; that is, each has its particular Centre from which and to
which their motions tend. But nevertheleſſe they are kept ſo bound together,
partly by Nature and partly by Art, that the one can operate little or nothing
without the other, ſo that the Action of the one is the Paſſion of the other, and ſo
the contrary.
51
Emblema XVIII.
Ignire ignis amat, non aurificare, ſed aurum.
(Fire loves making thinges fiery, but unlike gold, it does not make gold.)
E PIGRAMMA XVIII.
Si quod agens fuerit naturæ, mittit in orbem
Vires atque ſuas multiplicare cupit.
Oba sic ignis facit ignea cuncta, nec eſt res,
Abſque ſua cauſa, nobile quæ det opus.
Aurum nil ignit per se, nilignis inaurat,
Quodlibet agnoſcit quod ſibi ſemen inest.
52
D ISCOURSE XVIII.
Nature's way of working in all individualls of the univerſe is to uſe one ſingle
proceſſe to complete and perfect one ſingle motion. As appears in the Anatomy of
man's body, in which one Muſcle only ſerves for one motion, that is the Attractive,
but another oppoſite to the firſt for the Expanſive, ſo that if any member is to be
brought into a bending motion it muſt be effected by various muſcles put into a
Circle. So the operation of fire is one and ſingle, that is, to make hot or be fiery and
to Aſſimilate to itſelf and burn all thinges to which it is applied if they be
combuſtible.
Hence Avicenna ſays in his book of Congelation of Stones, What falls into ſalt pits
becomes ſalt, and what falls into fire becomes fire, but ſome thinges ſooner, ſome
more ſlowly according to the Power of the Actives and reſiſtance of the Paſſives.
And there is a place in Arabia which coloureth all bodyes which exiſt in it of its
own colour. So each Naturall thinge poſſeſſes a virtue infuſed into it by Nature by
which it acts upon thoſe thinges which are mixed or applied to it by aſſimilating or
altering their Nature and form. That which in Vegetables and Animalls is
generation by the propagation of ſeeds, the ſame proceſſe in ſimple and ſimply
mixed bodyes is the infuſion of Virtue and Aſſimilation.
Thus the Sun, the light of heaven, caſts its rayes upon the Earth which, when
collected into concaves or burning glaſſes, demonſtrate themſelves to be produced
from ſuch a cauſe and to ſeem as if they were the projectible forms of the Sun.
From whence it is evident that the Rayes of the Sun are nothing elſe but a fiery
flame extended and diſperſed into an ample latitude, which being collected and
condenſed again into itſelf by concavous, Diaphanous, circular and repercuſſive
inſtruments ſuch as Concavous and Steel mirrors, do ſhine forth as a flame and
burn all that approaches it.
In the ſame manner there is a certain Virtue diſperſed as a Vapor throughout every
Elemented body which, if it be gathered together and attracted into one, turns into
water, and from that water into earth. Hence Avicenna in the place quoted before
ſays that water becomes Earth when the Qualities of Earth overcome it, and ſo on
the contrary. But there is a certain matter which ſome ingenious men uſe when
they would coagulate to form a thinge that is Dry; this matter is compounded of
two waters and is call Lac Virginis. So far that Author. There are ſome who think
themſelves able to double or further multiply the Virtues of the Loadſtone, one of
which kind we have ſeen ſet in Silver of ſcarce a pound weight which attracted
and held up an Iron Anchor of eight and twenty pound; which it was impoſſible
for it to have done if its force had not been increaſed and ſtrengthened, which
53
undoubtedly was effected by the revocation of the diſperſed virtues into one
point, or by the attraction of them from a greater body into a leſſe.
There are others who affirm that a Leadmaking Stone may be made of the
Sulphurous breath of Saturn, infuſed and retained by common Mercury, till it be
coagulated; which immediately turns Common Mercury into Lead. Some boaſt
that they can from Antimony or its Stellated Regulus make Copper from the Fume
of Copper in as ſhort a ſpace as a man can eat an Egge; and further, that they have
made all metalls in ſuch a way. I will not detract from their reputations, though to
me it does not ſeem probable. I know not whether they are more confident or
ſucceſſfull who endeavour to deduce gold from gold, according to the ſaying of
the Porta Aureus: He that deſires Barley ſowes only Barley, In Gold are the ſeeds
of Gold. Every naturall thinge hath indeed a virtue of multiplying itſelf, but this is
brought into action in vegetables and Animalls only, not in Metalls, Mineralls,
Earthy Foſſils or meteors. Some plants ſprung from a ſmall grain of ſeed do often
times yield a thouſand ſeeds or more, and ſo multiply and propagate themſelves;
and ſo yearly Animalls alſo have their product in greater or leſſer Number,
according to each of their Natures. But Gold, Silver, Lead, Tin, Iron, Copper or
Argent Vive are never known to multiply themſelves or their kind after that
manner, although it is often found that one may be commuted into another and
made more noble. Nevertheleſs the Philoſophers affirm that the principle of
ignifying is in fire, and ſo that of Aurifying is in Gold. But the tincture muſt be
ſought for by whoſe Intermediation Gold is to be made. You muſt ſearch for this in
its own proper principles and generations and not in thinges of another Nature;
for if Fire produceth Fire, a Pear a Pear, a Horſe a Horſe, then Lead will generate
Lead and not Silver, Gold will Generate Gold and not the Tincture. But beſides all
this the Philoſophers have a peculiar Gold which they do not deny muſt be added
to the Aurifick Stone as a Ferment at the End of the Work, ſeeing it leads the
thinge fermented into its own Nature, without which the whole compoſition
would never return to Perfection.
54
Emblema XIX.
Si de quattuor unum occidas, ſubitò mortuus omnis erit.
(If you kill one of the four, they will all ſuddenly dye.)
E PIGRAMMA XIX.
Bis duo ſtant fratres longo ordine, pondera terræ
Quorum unus dextra ſuſtinet, alter aquæ:
Aëris atque ignis reliquis est portio, ſi uis
Vt pereant, unum tu modo morte premas:
Et conſanguineo tollentur funere cuncti,
Naturæ quia eos mutua uincla ligant.
55
D ISCOURSE XIX.
The Poets feign that Geryon, King of Spain, conſiſted of three bodyes, and that he
had Oxen of a Purple Colour and that a Dogg with two heads and a Dragon with
ſeven were ſet over them to watch them. The ſame Geryon is reported to be the
Son of Chryſaor, ſprung from the blood of Meduſa as the Dragon was from that of
Typhon and Echidna. But ſince all theſe agree neither with Hiſtory nor the Truth,
and yet fall in exactly with the Chymicall Allegories, we think we have reduced
them to that proper head by applying them to that Subject. For by the threefold
body of Geryon we underſtand three Faces beheld in one Father according to the
ſenſe of Hermes, or as others would have it four Faces, they having regard to the
four Elements, for a Triangle muſt be made of a Quadrangle as that was made of a
Circle, and ſo this muſt return into a Circle. Now there is ſo great a conſanguinity
and naturall conjunction of the Bodyes of Geryon or the Elements that one being
overcome and ſlain, the reſt alſo dye of themſelves and putrefye without the
application of any Manuall Force.
As to thinges with two bodyes, it is well known that one being dead the other
Waſtes and conſumes, as we ſaw in Italy of a boy of four years old who had two
bodyes: the head of one Brother was hid within the body of the other, and was
fixed to him juſt at the Navel, and ſo hung down from thence, and being much
leſſe than him was carryed about by him. If you preſſed the hands or feet of the
leſſer more hard than ordinary, the bigger felt the pain; nay, and hunger too, when
the belly of the latter was Empty for want of Suſtenance. And this is the
Combination and Sympathy of Nature, whereby the members and parts of one
and the ſame body, or of a body joined and born with another, are mutually
moved and affected together, whereof if one be ſound and unhurt it is not
neceſſary that the others ſhould ſo remain. But if one be grievouſly hurt, the reſt do
alſo ſympathiſe and periſh by the ſame malady. So if one Neighbour gains much
money, yet no profit accrues thereby to another of his Neighbours, but if he ſuffers
loſſe by Fire his neighbour receives much damage- for your affairs are in danger
when the next houſe has taken fire. Therefore it is in no way repugnant to Truth
that from the death of one of theſe brothers, the deſtruction of the reſt ſhould
happen. This may come to paſſe by diverſe means, either becauſe they were born
at the ſame birth from one father and mother, and therefore as they had the ſame
beginning, ſo likewiſe they have the ſame period of their dayes- which thinge (as
we have read) has happened to ſome perſons. Or perhaps by the inclination of the
Starrs, or by being joined together not only in their Souls but alſo in the Ligaments
56
of their bodyes, or by a conſternation of mind ſuch as ſtrong imagination in time of
peſtilence, or by the Vow of a League.
In the Indies, under the Dominions of the great Mogul (he that now reigns being
the ninth ſucceſſor from Tamerlane), there are certain Gentiles who go by the
Name of Pythagoreans, among whom this Ancient cuſtom is obſerved: that if the
Huſband dye, the wife is burnt with fire, or lives in perpetuall infamy deſerted by
all and eſteemed as a Dead woman. Which was therefore ordained that wives
might be afraid of poiſoning their Huſbands unleſſe they alſo are reſolved to dye
with them.
So in the Philoſophickal Work when one brother is dead, the others periſh by
Fires, not compelled but Voluntarily, that they may not ſurvive in infamy and
ſorrow. Or if one be aſſaulted with a Club, Sword or Stone he will raiſe a Civil war
with his brethren, as in thoſe Gyants ſprung out of the Earth who were born from
Dragons’ Teeth to oppoſe Jaſon, and who at another time and place roſe up to reſiſt
Cadmus. In this manner will all of them fall by a mutuall deſtruction of one
another. For touch or hurt him that carryes Air, and he will riſe up againſt two
together that are neareſt him, namely againſt him which carries Water and him
that carries Fire. And theſe will on both ſides oppoſe themſelves againſt him that
carries Earth and him that firſt promoted the quarrell, till they have received
mutuall wounds of which they will dye. For it is thus reſolved among the brothers
that the more earneſtly and vehemently they love one another, ſo if once they
begin to hate their anger ſhall be more implacable and not be appeaſed but by
death. This can be compared to the ſweeteſt honey which, in a Stomach too hot or
Liver corrupted, is turned into the moſt bitter Gall.
Kill him therefore that is alive, but ſo that you may bring him to life again when he
is dead, otherwiſe his death will not avail you. For his death will be an advantage
to him after his reſurrection, and Death and darkneſſe and the Sea will fly from
him as Hermes teſtifies in Capitulum 3 of the Tractatus Aureus, verſe IX: And the
Dragon which obſerved the Holes will fly from the rayes of the Sun, and our dead
ſon liveth and the King cometh from the Fire. Belinus in his Metaphor in the
Roſary mentions the ſame thinge: And let this be done when you have drawn me
partly from my Nature, and my wife partly from her Nature- you muſt then alſo
kill the Natures, and we are raiſed up with a new incorporeall reſurrection ſo that
afterwards we cannot dye.
57
Emblema XX.
Naturam natura docet, debellet ut ignem.
(Nature teaches Nature how to ſubdue Fire.)
E PIGRAMMA XX.
Flamma, uorat quæ cuncta, uelut Draco, grauiter urſit
Virginis eximium ui ſuperare decus:
Hinc lachrymis ſuffusa uiro dum forte uidetur,
Ille fuit miſeræ ferre paratus opem.
Protinus hanc clypeo uelans contendit in hostem,
Et docuit tantas ſpernere mente minas.
58
D ISCOURSE XX.
The common token and ſymbol by which the Philoſophers may know one another
is: That Nature is guided, taught, governed and ſubdued by Nature, as a Schollar
by a Miſtreſſe, a Waiting Maid by her Lady, a Subject by a Queen, a Daughter by a
Mother or a Kinſwoman by a Kinſwoman. The truth of this appears by daily
experience in the Education of Youth amongſt men, the Inſtitutions of Learning,
Government and the like. Pliny writes of Nightingales that one teaches, attends,
obſerves, imitates and overcomes another in ſinging, or being overcome laments,
and that ſometimes being Vanquiſhed in the conflict and her throat torn with her
notes ſhe periſhes and falls down dead in the midſt of her ſinging. We ſee alſo how
all ſorts of birds begin to inſtruct and accuſtom their young ones, being yet tender
and not quite fledged, how to flye. So it is not only Nature but Art and Uſe that
brings them to the habit of flying, though Nature alone gave power and organs for
the exerciſing of that Action, without which no Art or Inſtitution can find place or
Foundation. So Colts are taught to run by the Mare, Whelps to bark by the Bitch,
and young Foxes to be cunning by their Den. Nor is there any animated or
ſenſitive Nature or ſpecies of Nature which does not guide, inſtruct and govern
another Nature, which is its offſpring, or elſe ſuffer itſelf to be overcome by
another Nature as a Parent.
We do not find ſuch diſcipline in Vegetables, but the uſe and handywork of Man is
obſerved to prevail much upon them. For whilſt the Corn is in the blade it may be
cleanſed from Tares and unprofitable Thiſtles; whilſt a tree is yet a Twig it may be
bent and made to grow as you pleaſe; and ſo in Metalls and Philoſophickal
ſubjects, one nature keeps, preſerves and defends another Nature in Fire, as is
known to Founders and Refiners but eſpecially to Maſters of Naturall thinges.
Iron added to ſilver or gold, being yet very tender and ſpirituall, mixed in its
mines with Cadmia, Arſenick or depredating, devouring Antimony, becomes very
helpfull and performs the part of a midwife if it be caſt upon the minerals to be
burnt in the Fire of Furnaces. After the ſame manner, when Iron itſelf is to be
changed into Steel, it is ſaved from burning by ſome white Stones that are found
upon the Seaſhore. Some do caſt the powders of Chryſtall glaſſe or the gall of glaſſe
upon metallick powder to be diſſolved, that they may not periſh by overmuch
Fire. For this purpoſe the Philoſophers uſe Eudica, which Morienus Romanus ſays
is the gall of glaſſe and to be had in glaſſe veſſels. For the heat of Fire conſumes the
body with haſty burning, but when Eudica is applied it will cure bodyes changed
into Earth from any burning. For when bodyes do no longer retein their ſouls they
are ſoon burnt. Eudica (the Faex of Glaſſe) is indeed agreeable to all bodyes, for it
59
revives and prepares them and defends them from all burning. This therefore is
the nature which teaches another Nature to fight againſt Fire and to be inured to
Fire; this is the Miſtreſſe that inſtructs the Schollar, and if you conſider well, the
Queen governing the Subject and the Daughter giving Honour to her Mother. This
is the Red ſervant which is joined in Matrimony with his Odoriferous Mother, and
of her begets a progeny far more noble than its Parents. This is Pyrrhus ſon of
Achilles, the young man with Red Hair, golden veſtments, Black Eyes and white
feet. This is the Knight that has the Torque or Collar about him, armed with a
ſword and ſhield againſt the dragon that he may reſcue from his jaws the pure and
unviolated Virgin named Albifica, Beya or Blanca. This is the monſter-killing
Hercules who freed Heſione the Daughter of Laomedon from that monſtrous
whale which ſhe was expoſed to. This is that Perſeus who, by ſhowing the Head of
Meduſa, defended Andromedes the Daughter of Caſſiope and Cepheus King of
the Ethiopians from a ſea monſter, and having freed her from her chains
afterwards married her. This is He that may be compared with thoſe Ancient
Romans, the Reſtorers and Deliverers of their Country: M. Curtio, L. Scævola,
Horatio Coclite, Manlio Capitolino and the reſt, who can free a city as well as his
mother from Dangers. For this is the way and method of Nature, tending to the
perfection of any work. She deduces one thinge from another and a more perfect
thinge from an imperfect, making an Act out of a Power; but ſhe does not finiſh all
in a moment, but by doing one thinge after another at laſt arrives at her End. Nor
does ſhe do this alone, but ſhe likewiſe in the firſt place conſtitutes herſelf a Deputy
to whom ſhe leaves the Power of life and death, that is the power of Forming other
thinges. For example, in the generation of a man ſhe uſes a long proceſſe of ten
months. But according to Ariſtotle ſhe firſt frames the Heart as her Deputy and
the Principall organ, and then the Heart delineates forms and perfects the other
members which are neceſſary to nutrition, life, ſenſe and the generating power,
and imparts to them life and vivifying ſpirits by its Syſtole and Diaſtole; that is, by
the dilating and compreſſing of Arteries, ſo long as it is not hindered by diſeaſes
and violence. And ſo one nature teaches another, which you muſt remark and
follow as the moſt clear example of the Philoſophickal Work.
60
Emblema XXI.
Fac ex mare & fœmina circulum, inde quadrangulum, hinc triangulum,
fac circulum & habebis lap. Philoſophorum.
(Make of the man and woman a Circle, of that a Quadrangle, of this a Triangle, of the ſame
a Circle and you will have the Stone of the Philoſophers.)
E PIGRAMMA XXI.
Fœmina masque unus fiant tibi circulus, ex quo
Surgat, habens æquum forma quadrata latus.
Hinc Trigonum ducas, omni qui parte rotundam
In ſphæram redeat: Tum Lapis ortus erit.
Si res tanta tuæ non mox uenit ob uia menti,
Dogma Geometræ ſi capis, omne ſceies.
61
D ISCOURSE XXI.
Plato that moſt Excellent Philoſopher was of the Opinion that thoſe notions or
Ideas which are the Foundations of Arts and Sciences are as it were actually
engraved and imprinted upon the mind of Man, and that by the Repetition and
remembrance of them he can apprehend and know all manner of learning. To
prove this he introduced a young Lad, rude and uninſtructed, and aſked him ſuch
Geometricall Queſtions that the Youth might be perceived to anſwer right whether
he will or no, and although before he underſtood nothing of the matter, yet by
theſe anſwers ſeemed to have penetrated into the Depths of ſo abſtruſe a Science.
From whence he concluded that in children all Diſcipline and Doctrine is not at
firſt taken in and learnt, but called to mind and brought by the memory, alluding
by this to his Annus Magnus or Great Year, of which he ſays that forty eight
thouſand ſolar Years agoe, before the Revolution of the Heaven, the ſame perſons,
thinges and actions were then in being which are at the preſent time, whenſoever
that is. But every perſon may perceive that theſe thinges have no more
foundations of truth in them than mere dreams. We do not deny that there are
ſome ſparks of notions and mere powers imprinted in us, which muſt be reduced
into act by inſtitution, but we utterly deny that they are ſuch or ſo great as to be
the Summaries of Arts and Sciences without any precedent inſtruction.
It will then be aſked from whence Arts and Sciences have proceeded if men have
not invented them, or whether they were not at firſt delivered from Heaven by the
God of the Nations. I anſwer by ſaying that burning Coals may lye hid under
Aſhes in ſo great a quantity that if the Aſhes were but removed they would be
ſufficient for the dreſſing of meat or warming oneſelf; but this is a different thinge
from affirming that only ſome ſmall ſpark lyes there, which before it can be of uſe
and adminiſter a ſufficient heat muſt be cheriſhed and nouriſhed with freſh fewell
by human Act, Care and Induſtry, or otherwiſe it would be eaſily extinguiſhed.
The Ariſtotelicks aſſert the latter as the Platonicks do the former. Reaſon and
Experience ſeem to agree with this latter, whereas the firſt depends only upon
Imagination and Phanſy. Here it may be aſked why Plato wrote over the Door of
his ſchool that no one ignorant of Geometry was there to be admitted, ſeeing he
affirmed that little boys did actually know it. Are men more unlearned than boys?
Or when they grow up, do they forget what they knew when children? That
cannot be ſuppoſed, for we ſee that Brutes do by the inſtinct of Nature as ſoon as
they are brought forth abhor and avoid the danger of Fire, Water, Precipices and
the like. Yet an infant neither knows nor ſhuns ſuch thinges. Why do not the Bee,
Fly and Gnatt precipitate themſelves into the Fire, ſeeing that they cannot know by
62
experience that danger will ariſe from it? Becauſe nature has taught them, but ſhe
has not done ſo by man when he is newly born. If Geometry is ſo eaſy and naturall
to children, how comes it to paſſe that Plato did not know the Quadrature of a
Circle, ſo that Ariſtotle who was his ſchollar affirms that it might be known but
was not yet known?
But that this was not unknown to the Philoſophers of Nature is apparent from
this: That they command a Circle to be turned into a Quadrangle, and this by a
Triangle to be reduced again to a Circle. By a circle they underſtand the moſt
ſimple body without angles, as by the Quadrangle they do the four Elements. It is
as if they ſhould ſay: The moſt ſimple corporeal Figure that can be found is to be
taken and divided into four Elementall Colours, becoming an Equilaterall
Quadrangle. Now every man underſtands that this Quadration is Phyſicall and
agreeable to Nature, by which far more benefit accrues to the Publick, and more
light appears to the mind of Man, than by any meere Theory of Mathematicks
when abſtracted from Matter. To learn this perfectly a Geometrician acting upon
ſolid bodyes muſt enquire what is the depth of ſolid Figures, as for example the
Profundity of Sphere and Cube muſt be knowne and tranſferred to manuall uſe
and practice. If the Capacity or Circumference of the ſphere be 32 foot, how much
will one of the ſides of the Cube be to Equalize the Capacity of this Sphere? On the
contrary, one might look back from the Meaſures which the Cube contains to the
feet of each Circumference.
In like manner the Philoſophers would have the Quadrangle reduced into a
Triangle, that is, into a Body, Spirit and Soul, which three appear in the three
previous colours before Redneſſe: that is, the Body or earth in the Blackneſſe of
Saturn, the Spirit in the Lunar whiteneſſe as water, and the Soul or air in the Solar
Citrinity. Then the Triangle will be perfect, but this again muſt be changed into a
Circle; that is, into an invariable redneſſe, by which operation the woman is
converted into the man and made one with him, and ſix the firſt of the perfect
numbers is abſolved by one, two having returned again to an unity in which there
is Reſt and eternall peace.
63
EMBLEMA XXII.
Plumbo nabito candido fac opus mulierum, hoc eſt, COQUE.
(Having acquired White Lead, do the work of women, that is: Cook.)
E PIGRAMMA XXII.
Quisquis amas facili multum præſtare labore,
Saturni in faciem (quæ nigra) ſparge niues:
Et dabitur tibi materies albiſſima plumbi,
Poſt quod, fœmineum nil nisi reſtat opus.
Tum coque, ceu mulier, quæ collocat ignibus ollas,
Fac ſed ut in propriis Truta liqueſcat aquis.
64
D ISCOURSE XXII.
As the ſtatues of Mercury uſed to be erected where three ways met, with
inſcriptions upon them to guide dubious Travellers into the true way, ſo there are
ſeverall remarkable ſentences delivered by the Philoſophers (although they be
ſcattered up and down in their obſcure books and allegorical writings) which will
direct the Inquirers after Truth and lead them as it were by the hand into the right
path. The preſent Emblematicall inſcription is one of theſe. The meaning whereof
is that Lead muſt be made of the Philoſophickal Braſſe, and Tin of that Lead which
by Geber is called White Lead, who likewiſe teaches us how, by waſhing, Saturn
together with Mercury may paſſe into Jupiter.
Wherefore credit is to be given to this Index or direction, although it is ſpoken by
Battus: if at any time thou wouldſt diſcover the Philoſophickal Oxen and what
place they frequent, they are in the mounteins and under the mounteins. For
many men affirm this, as Arnold in his Novum Lumen, Capitulum 1: That Perſons
wandering in the mounteins know not theſe Animalls, but they are openly ſold at
a very ſmall price. In the Higheſt mounteins Snow and Clouds are moſt commonly
found even in Summer, by which as it were by vapour and water, black lead is
waſhed and turned into whiteneſſe. But in the loweſt Valleys and their mines their
Chryſtalls are found congealed and hardened out of ice, i.e. the Lapis Specularis,
which with Talc is commended for making the Face white and beautifull if an
Oyle be made thereof.
But chiefly there is to be found clear and running Mercury, which being well
prepared mends the Blemiſhes of Saturn and advanceth Him into the Throne of
Jupiter. However, this is not to be underſtood of Saturn and Jupiter as they are
commonly found (for common Mettalls do not enter into the Phyſicall work). But
it is ſaid of them, when purged by a long preparation and made Phyſicall, that
Saturn is the Father of all the Gentiles or rather of all ſearchers after the Golden
Work and the firſt Gate of Secrets. By him (ſays Rhaſis in his Epiſtle) the Gates of
Sciences are opened, to him ſucceeds his ſon Jupiter who expelled his Father out of
his Kingdom and diſmembered him leaſt he ſhould begett more Sons, and from
that member cut off and thrown into the Sea Venus the moſt Beautifull of females
is born. From Jupiter, who is White Lead prepared, the reſt of the planets are
produced; as Mars from Juno, Mercury from Maia the daughter of Atlas (a
mountein in Mauritania), Luna and Sol from Latona. Which four are brought into
the Light by Coction only, which is the work of women.
By Coction is underſtood the Maturation and Diſperſion of the more Crude parts,
which is performed by Vulcan in the Veſſells of Philoſophye. For it is not to be
65
ſuppoſed that it is common boyling which is the method of operation; it agrees
with that only as to its end or intent. For as a woman Matures Fiſh in waters- that
is, by reſolving all ſuperfluous moiſture from them into Waters and Air, ſoftens,
boyles and ſeethes them- ſo the philoſopher handles his ſubject in proper water
which is ſtronger than the Sharpeſt Vinegar by Macerating, Liquifying, Solving,
Coagulating and Mixing it in the Veſſell of Hermes, the joints of which as it is
requiſite are moſt ſtrictly cloſed, leaſt the water exhale and that which is in the
Veſſell be burnt. This is that Veſſell above the Veſſell, and the Philoſophers’ Pottthe Balneum Laconicum or Vaporous Bath- in which the old man ſweats.
Some there are who Boyle Fiſh, Lobſters, Crabs and Green Peas in a double Pott, ſo
that the thinges before mentioned are placed in the upper Pott, Water being only
in the Lower, and the Potts placed one above the other with orbs leaſt the vapour
ſhould come forth. By which means the Vapour of the Water aſcending only
penetrates and matures the thinges contained, and makes them much more
perfectly ſoft and tender than if they had been boyled in water. This is the moſt
Laudable way of the Philoſophers, whereby they ſoften that which is hard, diſſolve
that which is compact and rarifye that which is Thick. For it is Air or an inſenſible
Vapour which matures, decocts and perfects the fruit of Trees, and not water
Crude and Cold as it is. It is Air alſo which Tinges and Colours the Golden Apples
in the Garden of the Heſperides. For if it is well conſidered, the Ebullition of Water
whereby raw fleſh is boyled till it be fit to eat is nothing elſe but rarefaction of
waters; which bubbles eaſily vaniſh away, the Air betaking itſelf from the Waters
to its own Sphere, and the Water ſubſiding into its own Centre.
66
EMBLEMA XXIII.
Aurum pluit, dum naſcitur Pallas Rhodi, & Sol concumbit Veneri.
(When Pallas was born and Sol was in Conjunction with Venus it rained gold at Rhodes.)
E PIGRAMMA XXIII.
Res eſt mira, fidem fecit ſed Græcia nobis
Eius, apud Rhodios quæ celebrata fuit.
Nubibus Aureolus, referunt, quòd decidit imber,
Sol ubi erat Cypriæ iunctus amore Deæ:
Tum quoque, cum Pallas cerebro Iouis excidit, durum
Vaſe ſuo pluuiæ ſic cadat inſtar aquæ.
67
D ISCOURSE XXIII.
Unleſſe it were to be underſtood Allegorically it would be madneſſe to affirm that
Gold ever rained upon the Earth. For there are no Gold-bearing Rivers, nor Mines
in the Clouds that it may poſſibly be ſaid to be produced there; nor is gold of ſo
little a weight that it may be thought to be attracted thither by Vapours. But a
Trope admitts and excuſes all theſe thinges. For ſo truly as Pallas actually ſprang
from the brain of Jupiter and Sol was joined in Adultery with Venus, ſo truly alſo
fell Golden Showers- not as if we any ways doubt that both theſe have happened,
but that we may remove the literal and vulgar ſenſe from thinges that are ſpoken
Allegorically. For if we follow the plain words of this Emblem there is nothing
more abſurd, but if we attend to the meaning there can be nothing more true. Now
Rhodes is an iſland, at firſt called Ophiuſa from the Multitude of Serpents, then
Rhodes from the Gardens of Roſes which flouriſhed there, and laſtly Coloſſicola
from the Coloſſus of the Sun, which being there was eſteemed one of the ſeven
wonders of the world. Hence the Ancient Philoſophers, ſeeing that their Mercuriall
matter when it is Crude has the reſemblance of a ſerpent, but after it is prepared
and decocted aſſumes to itſelf the purple colour of a Roſe, have taken ſeverall of
their Similitudes from this Iſland of Rhodes, and for the ſame reaſon aſcribed to it
that Golden ſhower which fell upon Apollo's conjunction with Venus.
This being at firſt ſpoken figuratively gave the Rhodeians a pretence to grow
Naughty upon their imagination that ſuch great Deityes ſhould deſire to have an
offſpring conceived upon their Iſland, and therefore they erected an Idol to the
Sun of a moſt Stupendous Value and Magnitude. For that Coloſſus as Hiſtory
relates was ſeventy Cubits high, and ſo placed that ſhips under full ſail might paſſe
between the legs. Its fingers were as big as ordinary Statues, and few men could
embrace its thumb. The Artiſt was Chares Lyndius the Diſciple of Lyſippus who
was twelve years in the finiſhing of it. After it had ſtood fifty and ſix years it was
overthrown by an Earthquake, and yet as it lay proſtrate was ſtill thought
wonderous. When the Soldan of Ægypt conquered Rhodes he is reported to have
laden nine hundred Camells with the Braſſe of this Statue.
What Sol is among the Planets, ſay the Philoſophers, that is gold among the
Metalls; and this is chiefly appropriated to the Sun in the reſpect of its Heat,
Colour, Virtue and Eſſence. Hence a golden rain is aſcribed to the generation of the
Sun, and little Suns are conceived by Venus. For Venus has a Roſy colour in her
Face, which if it be infuſed into the ſeed of Sol the offſpring which is hence
produced muſt really be born at Rhodes. For the Son of the Philoſophers is
beautifull, and like Roſes He draws and allures the Eyes and minds of all men. He
68
deſerves love, therefore it is not ſtrange that at his birth Miracles ſhould happen,
for he is afterwards to be miraculous in all his works and to raiſe up a ſhower of
Gold. He is brother of Augias the Son of Sol who had oxen for his patrimony, the
Dung of whom in one dayes time was purged away by Hercules. He is alſo the
Brother of Æetes who poſſeſſed the Golden Fleece later obtained by Jaſon.
It is reported of Pallas that ſhe was born from the Brain of Jupiter without a
Mother, and that ſhe was called Tritonia becauſe ſhe was brought forth near the
River Triton. She is feigned to be the Goddeſs of Wiſdom and is not undeſervedly
ſo eſteemed, ſeeing ſhe ſprings from the Brain which is the Seat of it. Golden
ſhowers did likewiſe ſignifye her birth day at Rhodes, that ſo the time of her
coming into this Light might remain in the memory of mankind. For as at the time
of a publick rejoycing, whether it be the Coronation of a King or the Birth of a
Prince, there are gold medalls thrown among the people, ſo the ſame was done at
the birth of Pallas. For Pallas is Sophia or Wiſdom, who carries health in her right
hand and riches in her left, providing at the ſame time both for man's eaſe and
plenty. To Her Perſeus brought the head of Meduſa which turned all thinges into
Stone, and was horrid in its appearance with ſerpents and vipers inſtead of Hairs;
which ſhe afterwards placed in her ſhield to uſe it againſt her Enemyes, that is to
ſay Rude and Barbarous people who are therefore to be turned into Stones. And in
truth Wiſdom or Naturall Philoſophye renders its incredulous and envious
condemners quite ſtupid and void of ſenſe and underſtanding by the means of that
ſame thinge, from whence Chryſaor was borne who was the father of Geryon who
had three bodyes. That is by the means of the Lapiditick Gorgonian blood, which
is nothing elſe but the Tincture of the Philoſophick Stone.
69
EMBLEMA XXIV.
Regem lupus uorauit, & uitæ crematus reddidit.
(A wolf devoured the King, and being burnt it reſtored him to life again.)
E PIGRAMMA XXIV.
Multi uorum captare lupum tibi cura ſit, illi
Proiiciens Regis corpus, ut ingluuiem
Hoc domet, hunc diſponme rogo, Vulcanus ubi ignem
Exicet, in cineres belua quo redeat.
Illud agas iterum atque iterum, ſic morte reſurget
Rexque Leonino corde ſuperbus erit.
70
D ISCOURSE XXIV.
The Hunger and Voracity of a wolf is remarkably knowne to be very great,
inſomuch that when his prey is wanting he will feed even upon the Earth; with
which he is likewiſe ſaid to fill his belly when he is about to ſet upon large herds of
Cattle, that ſo being made heavier by that burden he may reſiſt more ſtrongly and
not eaſily be ſhaken off from his hold. When he enters a fold he doth not only kill
enough to ſatiſfye his hunger but through greedineſſe deſtroys the whole flock. He
is Sacred to Apollo and Latona becauſe he ſtood by her when ſhe was in Labour,
for Latona could not have delivered young unleſſe he had been preſent. Hence
likewiſe the wolf is thought acceptable to Apollo becauſe he celebrated his
birthday, as alſo becauſe his Eyes ſhine and caſt forth light in the midſt of the
night. Therefore the breathleſſe body of the King is thrown to the wolf when he is
ravenouſly hungry, not to the end that the wolf ſhould wholly conſume and
annihilate the King, but that by his own death the wolf ſhould reſtore ſtrength and
life to him. For there is a certain amatorious Virtue in the Tayle of the Wolf which
is infuſed into the half dead King which makes him very deſirable to all men upon
the recovery of His former Health and Beauty.
The Hyrcanians nouriſhed Doggs for no other Uſe but that they might caſt their
Dead Bodyes to be devoured by them, as Cicero tells us. And ſo the Maſſagetes
give men that dye of diſeaſes as a prey to doggs. But the Philoſophers give their
King to a Wolf, nor indeed are they pleaſed with the Cuſtom of the Sabeans, who
carryed out their dead in the ſame manner as dung and threw their King upon the
Dunghills; nor that of the Troglodytes of the Red Sea, who tyed the Necks of their
dead men to their feet and hurried them along with Jeſts and Laughter, and ſo put
them into the ground without any Conſideration of the place of Buriall. But the
Philoſophers choſe to follow the Cuſtom of the Magi, who did not bury their dead
bodyes till they had firſt been torn to pieces by wild beaſts; or of the Indians, who
being Crowned and ſinging the praiſes of the Gods commanded themſelves to be
burnt alive, leaſt old age ſhould come upon them. But theſe cuſtoms were impoſed
upon them all without any hopes of Reſurrection or Renew all of Life. Thinges are
far otherwiſe diſpoſed among the Philoſophers. For they certainly know that from
their King devoured by a wolf there will appear one that is Alive, Strong and
Young, and that the wolf muſt be burnt in his ſtead. For when the belly of the
wolf is ſo gorged he will eaſily be ſlain, but although the King be dead he hath a
Martiall or Cygnean Virtue that he can neither be wounded nor conſumed.
But where is this Wolf to be hunted, or whence this King to be taken? The
Philoſophers anſwer that the wolf wanders up and down in the Mounteins and
71
Valleys that he may ſeize his prey, which muſt be drawn out of their dens and
preſerved for Uſe. But the King being fatigued with the long journey he has taken
from the Eaſt at length falls down, and his death is then haſtened by his grief
ſeeing himſelf among Strangers, deprived of all his Honours and ſo little eſteemed
as for a ſmall price to be ſold into ſlavery. But it is neceſſary that the Wolf muſt be
taken out of a Cold Region, for thoſe that are bred in Cold Countryes are more
fierce than in Libya or Egypt by reaſon of their greater hunger occaſioned by the
externall cold. Hence the devoured King revives with the heart of a Lyon and is
able afterwards to conquer all beaſts. And although he is the meaneſt in Aſpect
among his ſix brothers, being the Youngeſt of them all, yet after many miſeries and
tribulations he ſhall at laſt come to the moſt powerfull Kingdom. Hereupon
Gratianus in the Roſary ſaith: In Alchymy there is a certain noble body which
moved from Maſter to Maſter, in whoſe beginning there ſhall be Miſery with
Vinegar, but in the End Joy with Gladneſſe. And Alanus in the ſame place ſays:
There is one thing to be choſen out of all, which is of a Livid Colour, having a clear
liquid metallick Species, and is a thinge Hot and Moiſt, Watery and Combuſtible,
and is a Living Oyle and Living Tincture, a Minerall Stone and Water of Life of
wonderfull efficacy.
It is not always ſafe for Kings to travell out of the Confines of their Kingdoms, for
if they endeavour to conceal themſelves and yet happen to be known by their
Adverſaries, they are taken for Spyes and impriſoned; if being known they would
proceed without an Army they are in the ſame manner of danger. And ſo it has
happened to this Indian King, or if he had not been prevented by death it would
ſo have happened. This capture is the firſt Sublimation, Lotion and Nobilitation
which the Philoſophers uſe, that the ſecond and third may be performed with
more happy ſucceſs. For the ſecond and third without the firſt are of no moment,
the King being as yet Puſillanimous, Drowſy and Sick. For He muſt firſt require
Subſidies and Tributes of his Subjects by which he may purchaſe himſelf garments
and other neceſſaryes, and afterwards he will be rich enough and able to new
clothe all his Subjects as often as He pleaſes. For great thinges being generally
ſprung from ſmall beginnings can afterwards raiſe up ſmall thinges, or even
ſuppreſſe great ones if ſuch their pleaſure be. As appears by ſome Cities, which at
firſt were ſmall but were governed by mighty Kings, and ſo from Villages became
populous and Magnificent Towns.
72
EMBLEMA XXV.
Draco non moritur, niſi cum fratre & ſorore ſua interficiatur,
qui ſunt Sol & Luna.
(The Dragon does not dye unleſſe he be ſlain by a Brother and a Siſter, which are Sol and Luna.)
E PIGRAMMA XXV.
Exiguæ eſt non artis opus, ſtrauiſſe Draconem
Funere, ne ſerpatr mox rediuiuus humo.
Frater & ipſa ſoror iuncti ſimul illius ora
Fuſte premunt, nec res fert aliena necem.
Phœbus ei frater, ſoror eſt at Cynthia, Python
Illâ, aſt Orion hac cecidêre manu.
73
D ISCOURSE XXV.
In the acquiſition of the Golden Fleece the Dragon was firſt to be killed, which
Labour having been in vain attempted by many men, they were overcome by the
Dragon and deſtroyed with his deadly poiſon. The reaſon was becauſe they were
not ſufficiently armed againſt his Venom, nor inſtructed by what device he might
be ſlain. But Jaſon the Phyſitian neglected no manner of Remedies, ſeverall of
which he received from Medea (the counſel of his mind) and among them the
Images of Sol and Luna, by the true uſe of which he obtained the victory which
was the Golden Fleece. Therefore the Dragon was ſlain by Sol and Luna, or by
their Images, as the Philoſophers often obſerve.
So the Author of the Roſary out of other Writers as Hermes ſays: The Dragon dyes
not unleſſe he be killed by the Brother and Siſter; not by one alone but by two
together, to wit by the Sun and Moon. The Philoſophickal Mercury never dyes
unleſſe it be killed with his ſiſter; that is, it is neceſſary to congeal him with the
Moon or Sun. Note the Dragon is Argent Vive extracted from bodyes, having in it
Body Soul and Spirit; whereupon he ſaith the Dragon dyes not unleſſe with his
Brother and Siſter, that is Sol and Luna, that is Sulphur extracted, having in itſelf
the Nature of Moiſture and Coldneſſe by reaſon of the Moon. With theſe the
Dragon dyes, that is Argent Vive extracted from the ſame bodyes at firſt, which is
the Aqua Permanens of the Philoſophers, which is made after putrefaction and
after ſeparation of the Elements, and that water by another Name is called Aqua
Foetida. So far he goes, with whom all the reſt do agree, and therefore I think it
unneceſſary to quote them.
The People of Epyrus worſhipped a Dragon in the Temple of Apollo in memory of
Python that was ſlain by him. There is by Nature a continuall war between the
Dragon and the Elephant, at whoſe eyes and throat he always ſtrikes, till the
Elephant falling upon the ground kills the Dragon with his Weight, from whence
by many is ſaid to come that Dragon's Blood which is imported into theſe parts.
The Dragon's Eyes are of equall Value with Jewells. His ſight is very ſharp and
clear, and therefore he is placed as a guard over Treaſures, as to the Garden of the
Heſperides and the Golden Fleece at Colchis. The Ancients alſo joined him to
Æſculapius as a Hieroglyphick.
But the chemiſts appropriate Dragons to their Work not in reality but as an
Allegorye. For a Dragon always denotes Mercury, whether he be fixed or volatile.
Hence Mercury has two ſerpents about his Caduceus (for a dragon is a great
ſerpent), and Saturn has but one which devours his Tayle, as alſo has Janus. A
Serpent is dedicated to Æſculapius, the ſon of Apollo and the Inventor of Medicine
74
(the Philoſophick Medicine), and it is believed that he was carryed in that ſhape
from Epidauros to Rome, and there always worſhipped for the ceſſation of the
peſtilence which (as they thought) was effected by him.
Now the Philoſophick Dragon is always moſt Vigilant and Lively, not eaſily to be
wounded both by reaſon of the thickneſſe of his ſkin and ſharpneſſe of his teeth
and Venom with which he is armed: for although the common Dragons are ſaid to
be without poiſon, yet this is not without it, venting it upon any one that comes
near unleſſe he be managed warily. He therefore can rarely be overcome by Force,
unleſſe the Craft of thoſe who are related to him by conſanguinity be added to it.
For it is truly obſerved by an Author that it is a ſafe and uſuall way to deceive
under the name of a Friend; but how ſafe or uſuall ſoever it may be, it carries a
Crime along with it. It may be ſo in other affairs, but it is not ſo in this. Jugglers
and mountebanks are ſaid to kill worms and drive them out of children by a
powder made of ſuch worms, that is to kill brothers with their brothers and ſiſters:
ſo here the Dragon is to be killed with the Brother and Siſter, which is Sol and
Luna. Whence it appears that the Dragon is alſo one of the Planets, to wit (as
before ſhowed out of the Roſary) Mercury extracted out of Bodyes.
Some of the Grecians have told us that in the Reign of Herod King of Judea a
Dragon fell in love with a beautifull maid who was marriageable, and lay with her
in bed; and that Tiberius the Emperor delighted in another which he commonly
fed with his own hand. So alſo the Philoſophickal Dragon if he be rightly handled
leaves his fierceneſſe and becomes a friend to man, but he is dangerous if uſed
otherwiſe. Xanthus the hiſtorian as Pliny relates it, tells us that a Dragon’s young
one being killed was by his parent brought to life again with the Herb called Balin,
which notwithſtanding I aſcribe to a Philoſophickal Allegorye rather then a true
Hiſtory. For only in Chymicall proceſſe Death happens to the live Dragon and life
returns to the dead one, and that by turns alternately.
But it may be enquired where and how the Dragon may be taken. The
Philoſophers anſwer: The Mounteins give Dragons to Rebis and the Earth
Founteins. But in Tacitus may be ſeen the way of taking him, and with what Care
and Induſtry many men watched to ſeize a very great Dragon which had been
obſerved in Africa, that ſo he might be carryed to Tiberius. For they found his
accuſtomed path among Stones; this they encloſed, and having ſeduced it to a
narrow compaſſe they then included him in bands and netts, and tamed him by
Clubs and Stripes till at laſt by the help of many Land Carriages He was brought
to the ſhip which conveyed him to Rome.
75
EMBLEMA XXVI.
Sapientiæ humanæ fructus Lignum uitæ eſt.
(The Tree of Life is the fruit of Human Wiſdom.)
E PIGRAMMA XXVI.
Maior in humanis non eſt ſapientia rebus,
Quàm quâ diuitiæ uitaque ſana uenit.
Dextra ſalubre tenet ſpaciosi temporis æuum,
Illius at cumulos læua recondit opum.
Si quis ad hanc ratione manuque acceſſerit, illi
Vitæ fructus in hac arboris inſtar erit.
76
D ISCOURSE XXVI.
Tullius has excellently deſcribed the Eſſentiall difference of Man whereby he is
diſtinguiſhed from all other animalls after this manner: As a Bird for flying, a
Horſe for running, ſo a Man is born for Reaſoning. For as Lyons, Bears and Tigers
do exerciſe and delight themſelves in fierceneſſe, Elephants and Bulls in ſtrength of
body, Eagles, Falcons and other Hawks in preying upon birds and ſwiftneſſe of
wings, ſo Man excells them and all other Creatures in Reaſon, Inferences and
Underſtanding. So there is no fierceneſſe, no ſtrength of body, no ſwiftneſſe in
Brutes ſo great, as not to be tamed, ſubdued and outdone by Man's Reaſon only.
For reaſon is not a thinge humane or proceeding from the Earth, but as the Poet
ſaith a particle of divine breath ſent from heaven into Man. It is ſometimes called
memory, ſometimes the intellectuall virtue to which, if uſe or experience be added,
Wiſdom ſprings from thence; which is the moſt precious thinge that a man can
obtain. For uſe is ſaid to be as the Father and Memory as the Mother of ſo generous
an offſpring. But the Queſtion is, what is true wiſdom? and moſt worthy of man's
enquiry, ſince the opinions concerning it are infinite, every man tranſferring it to
their own imaginations? It may be anſwered that Wiſdom (exception being always
made of that which in divine thinges relates to the Welfare of the Soul) in human
thinges does not conſiſt in Sophiſticall Arguments, Rhetoricall Speeches, Poeticall
Sound of Verſes, Criticall Subtility of the Grammarians. Nor in the craft of heaping
up Riches by violence, lyes, deceit, perjuryes, oppreſſion without any regard to the
cryes and labour of the Poor. For wiſdom is nothing elſe but the true knowledge of
Alchymie joined with practice, which is of the greateſt benefit to mankind. This is
the Wiſdom ſurpaſſing all thinges, which with her right hand penetrates the Eaſt,
with her left hand the Weſt, and Embraceth the whole Earth.
’Tis of this Wiſdom that Solomon diſcourſes ſo excellently in his Book of Wiſdom
and ſhows us how They that are acquainted have Eternall perſeverance, and Her
friends partake of ſincere pleaſures. And he that diligently enquireth after Her
ſhall receive much Joy, for there is no tediouſneſſe in her converſation, but to be
preſent with Her is mirth and gladneſſe. And though wine and muſick cheer the
heart of Man, yet Wiſdom is pleaſanter than both, for ſhe is the Tree of Life to all
that lay hold upon Her, and happy is every one that reteineth her. Lactantius
therefore calleth her the food of the Soul. The wiſe ſhall inherit Glory, and He that
eſteems wiſdom ſhall be exalted and honoured by Her. She is more powerfull then
all thinges and comforts a wiſe man more then ten mighty Princes that are in the
city. And to this worldly wiſdom may be applied what is ſaid by the Prophet
Baruch: Where is Wiſdom, Where is ſtrength and Where is underſtanding that
77
thou maiſt know alſo Where is length of dayes and Life, where is the light of the
Eyes and peace. And as Solomon affirms in the Book of Wiſdom, Great Pleaſure it
is to have Her Friendſhip, and in the works of Her hands are infinite Riches, and
in the exerciſe of conference with Her is prudence, and in talking with her a good
report.
Morienus the Philoſopher ſpeaking of it ſays: This is knowledge which draws him
that poſſeſſes it from the miſery of this world and brings him to the knowledge of
thoſe good thinges that are to come. And he Affirms it to be the Gift of God: For
this is nothing but the Gift of God moſt High who committs and reveals it to ſuch
of his ſervants and faithfull as He pleaſes. They therefore ought to be Humble and
ſubject in all thinges to the Omnipotent God. And in another place: For it is
convenient for you to know, O King, that this Magiſtery is nothing elſe but the
Arcanum and ſecret of ſecrets of the moſt High and Great God, for he hath
recommended this ſecret to his Prophets whoſe Souls he hath placed in his
Paradiſe. It is alſo called the Tree of Life; not that it hath Eternall Life in it, but
becauſe it doth as it were ſhow the way to it, and bears fruit profitable for this Life
which it cannot be without, ſuch as Health and the Goods of Fortune and Mind.
For without theſe a Man living is as if he were dead, and not unlike to a Brute,
although outwardly he repreſents him that he ought to be, but is not in his better
part.
78
EMBLEMA XXVII.
Qui Roſaroum intrare conatur Philoſophicum abſque claves,
aſſimilatur homini ambulare uolenti abſque pedibus.
(He that endeavours to enter into the Philoſophers’ Roſarye without a key,
is like him who would walk without feet.)
E PIGRAMMA XXVII.
Luxuriat Sophiæ diuerso flore R O S E T U M ,
Semper at eſt firmis ianua clauſa ſeris:
Vnica cui clauis res uilis habetur in orbe,
Hac ſine, tu capres, cruribus abſque uiam.
Parnaſſi in uanum conaris ad ardua, qui uix
In plano ualeas te ſtabilire ſolo.
79
D ISCOURSE XXVII.
They write of Erichthonius that He ſprang out of the Earth whilſt Vulcan wreſtled
with Pallas the Goddeſſe of Wiſdom, and was born not with the feet of a man but
formed like a ſerpent. Such are thoſe Perſons who by the means of Vulcan alone,
without the Wiſdom of Pallas, do beget Offſpring that are monſtrous, without feet
and abortive, which can neither profit others nor benefit themſelves. It is a
miſerable thinge for men to go upon all four, that is upon his hands and feet; but
worſe altogether are thoſe deſtitute of feet who uſe Arms inſtead of them, for they
ſeem to have degenerated into the Nature of Worms who go after the manner of
reptiles.
But the two legs are the two organick members of man, without which there can
be no true walking, no more then ſeeing without eyes or graſping thinges tangible
without hands. So likewiſe medicine and every operative Art are ſuppoſed to have
two legs, namely Experience and Reaſon, upon which they are to ſtand and
without either of which their Art is lame and imperfect in its Traditions and
Precepts, nor can it arrive at the End it propoſes. But Chemiſtry chiefly has two
ſubjects as its two legs, one of which is the key, the other is the bolt. With theſe the
Philoſophick Roſary although locked on every ſide may be opened, and free
admittance given to ſuch as have a Right to enter. But if one of theſe be wanting to
him that is about to enter therein, it will be the ſame thinge as if a Cripple ſhould
endeavour to outrun a Hare. He that without a key enters into the Garden which
is every way encloſed is like a Thief who coming in the dark night can diſcern
nothing that grows in the Garden, nor enjoy what he ſteals thence.
But the Key is a thinge of the meaneſt Value which properly is called a Stone,
known in the Chapter X as the Root of Rhodes, without which no Twig is put
forth, nor doth a Budd ſwell, nor a Roſe ſpring and ſend forth leaves in a thouſand
fold. But it may be aſked where this Key is to be ſought for? I anſwer with the
Oracle: it is there to be looked for where the Bones of Oreſtes are ſaid to be found,
to wit Where THE WINDS, THE STRIKER, THE REPERCUTIENT AND THE
DESTRUCTION OF MEN may be found together. That is, as Lychas interpreted it,
in a Braſier's Workhouſe. For by the Winds is meant his Bellows, by the Striker the
Hammer, by the Striker Back the Anvill, and by the Deſtruction of Men, Iron
ſeems to have been meant by the Oracle. If a man knows how to number well and
diſtinguiſh the ſigns he will certainly find this Key in the Northern Hemiſphere of
the Zodiack, and the bolt in the Southern; and being Maſter of theſe it will be eaſy
to open the Door and enter.
80
And in the very entrance he will ſee Venus and her beloved Adonis, for ſhe hath
tinged the White Roſe of a Purple Colour with her Blood. In the ſame place a
Dragon alſo is obſervable- as in the Heſperian Gardens- who watches over theſe
Roſes. And the ſcent of the Roſes is ſaid to be increaſed by Garlick planted near
them, and that by reaſon of the exceeding degree of Heat which is in Garlick
whereby it reſiſts cold poiſons, for the Roſes want the Heat of the Sun and Earth
before they can acquire a colour and ſmell that is moſt Gratefull to the Eyes and
Noſtrills. Moreover the Fume of Common Sulphur makes Red Roſes White if it
touch them, and ſo on the contrary the Spirit of Vitriol and Aqua Fortis refreſhes
them with a deep or full Red Colour which endureth. For common Sulphur is an
Enemy to the Philoſophickal Sulphur though it cannot deſtroy it, but the ſolutive
water is friendly to it and preſerves its Colour.
The Roſe is ſacred to Venus in regard of that Beauty in which it ſurpaſſeth all
Flowers; for it is a Virgin which Nature hath Armed that it might not be violated
without revenge and puniſhment. Violets are unarmed and trod under feet, but
Roſes lye among Prickles and have Yellow Hairs hidden within and a Garment of
Green without. No man can pluck them and ſeparate them from the Prickles but
he that is Wiſe; if otherwiſe, he ſhall feel a Sting in his fingers. So none but the moſt
Wary Philoſophers will crop their Flowers, leaſt in the Hives He ſhould find Stings
as well as Bees and Gall inſtead of Honey. Many have ſecretly and like Thieves
entered the Roſary but have reaped nothing from thence but Miſery and Loſſe of
Time and Labour. Whereupon Bacuſſer ſaith in the Turba: Our Books ſeem very
injurious to thoſe who read them only once or twice or perhaps thrice, for they
will be fruſtrated in their Underſtanding and whole Study. What is worſe they will
alſo loſe all their money, pains and time which they have ſpent in this Art, and a
little afterwards, when a man thinks he has perfected and has the World, he will
find nothing in his hands.
81
EMBLEMA XXVIII.
Rex balneatur in Laconico ſedens, atrâque bile liberatur à Pharut.
(The King is ſitting in a Vaporous Bath, and is freed from the Black Gall
by the Phyſitian Pharut.)
E PIGRAMMA XXVIII.
Rex Duenech (uiridis cui fulgent arma Leonis)
Bile tumen rigidis moribus uſus erat.
Hinc Pharut ad ſeſe medicum uocat, ille ſalutem
Spondet, & aërias fonte minſtrat aquas:
His lauat & relavat, uitreo ſub fornice, donec
Rore madenti omnis bilis abacta fuit.
82
D ISCOURSE XXVIII.
As there are three concoctions in man, the firſt in the Stomach, the ſecond in the
Liver, the third in the Veins, there are likewiſe as many univerſall Evacuations of
Excrements which are correſpondent to them and daily carry of their
ſuperfluityes; namely, the firſt by ſtool which is proper to the firſt concoction, the
ſecond by Urine which belongs to the ſecond, the third by Expiration through the
pores of the Whole Body or by ſweat which is peculiar to the third. In the firſt the
Chylus, in the next Chymus, in the third a Dew or dewy ſubſtance is Elaborated
and applied to every part of the Body. The Excrements or Faeces of the firſt are
Thick, Bilious and Fat, which are carryed through the Bowells backward, and if
they be at any time obſtructed they are gently, moderately or ſtrongly expelled by
purgations. The Excrements of the ſecond are liquid, more thin, bilious and ſaltiſh,
which are brought out of the Veins by the Kidneys and Bladders as Aqueducts.
The ſuperfluityes of the third are yet more thin and therefore do for the moſt part
expire of themſelves through the ſmalleſt pores, or are carryed out together with
the Serum of the Humors as ſweat. Theſe are helped by Sudorificks, as the former
are by Diureticks. The Ancient Greeks and Romans took a great deal of pains for
the evacuating of this latter ſort of Faeces, and to this End did ſo many ſports and
exerciſes, ſuch as the Chafing of all parts in the morning, Anointing with oyle and
Wreſtling, Fencing, Running, Hand-ball, Tennis, daily Waſhing and Bathing in
Rivers or Artificiall Baths. And for the convenience of theſe thinges ſo many
Magnificent ſtructures were built at Rome, which we may rather admire than
imitate; ſuch as were the Baths of Diocleſian, which are for the moſt part ſtill
remaining (and unleſſe I am miſtaken dedicated to the Arch Angels), an Aſpiring,
Superb and Splendid Work.
The ſame kinds of concoction as we have before mentioned are likewiſe in the
Elaboration of Metalls. For the firſt is made after its manner in the Magnus Annus
or great year, that is in the Revolution of the Higheſt Sphere, the ſecond in the
Revolution of the loweſt ſphere, the third in that of the middle one. But that the
Philoſophers may by the help of Art more Eaſily draw forth this maſſe of
Excrements and Superfluityes, they invent ſeverall methods ſuch as Waſhings,
Purgations, Bathings and Laconica or Vaporous Baths, by which they perform that
in the Philoſophickal Work which Phyſicians do in human Bodyes. Duenech
therefore is by Pharut introduced into his Laconicum that there He may ſweat and
evacuate through his Pores the Faeces of the third concoction; for this King's
diſtemper is melancholick or atrabilious by which he is in leſſe Authority and
Eſteem than all the other Princes, as being charged with the moroſſneſſe of Saturn
83
and the Choler and Fury of Mars. He therefore has a deſire to dye or be cured if it
be poſſible. Amongſt many Phyſicians one is found who undertakes this charge,
being induced to it by rewards and entreatyes. This Allegorye is very frequent in
the writings of the Philoſophers, as of Bernhardus, Alanus in the Treatiſe of
Duenech, and innumerable others.
Therefore we don't add ſeverall other Circumſtances which may be found in them,
but would here obſerve only what Excrement and of which Concoction it is that
ought to be evacuated by Bathing, for hereupon the whole matter will turn. In
Stoves or Hot Baths that Heat which is included in the Body is uſually, together
with the Blood, brought to the ſuperficies of the ſkin whereby a Beautyfull
complexion is made in the Face and whole Body; and if this appears it will be a
ſign that the Melanchollye Blackneſſe which infects the ſkin may inſenſibly be
evacuated, and all the humors corrected ſo that a pure and Roſy blood may
afterwards be generated. For it is neceſſary that the whole temperament of his
body be amended, becauſe being Cold and Dry it is repugnant to the bittering of
his blood, whereas He on the contrary is Hot and Moiſt; and whether this can be
done or no it is neceſſary for the Philoſopher to foreknow and foretell by
Prognoſticks.
There have been ſome men who have taken a Cobbler for a great Prince or King's
Son, but they have at length from certain ſigns perceived what he was in his
Deſcent and Education. Leaſt this ſhould happen the Artiſt in the firſt place muſt
be carefull to chooſe the true offſpring of the King, who although he does not
appear ſplendid with golden Attire, but is deſpicable and mean in his clothing as
likewiſe of a Livid and Melanchollye complexion, yet let him not reject him or take
another in his ſtead. For if he be very well waſhed his Royall Genius will ſoon
appear, as in Cyrus, Paris and Romulus who were educated among Ruſticks. But it
is further to be obſerved that the Bath muſt be a Laconicum, that is Vaporous and
Sudorifick, leaſt the water ſhould parch his Tender fleſh or obſtruct the Pores, from
whence would proceed more Harm than Advantage, nor could the Effect of it be
remedied. Let no perſon be ſollicitory what clothes the King ſhould put on after his
bathing; for as the Daughter of King Alcinoi preſented Garments to Ulyſſes who
was ſhipwrecked and naked, ſo there ſhall be one who will ſend him thoſe which
are moſt precious, whereby he may be acknowlegded deſervedly to be the
offſpring of the Sun.
84
EMBLEMA XXIX.
Ut Salamandra uiuit igne ſic lapis.
(As the Salamander lives in fire, ſo alſo the Stone.)
E PIGRAMMA XXXIX.
Degit in ardenti Salamandra potentior igne,
Nec Vulcane tuas æſtimat illa minas:
Sic quoque non flammarum incendia ſæva recuſat,
Qui fuit aßiduo natus in igne Lapis.
Illa rigens æſtus extinguit, liberaque exit,
At calet hic, ſimilis quem calor ine iuuat.
85
D ISCOURSE XXXIX.
There are two Elements in which Animalls live, Air and Water, and as many in
which nothing that is Animated can remain, to wit, Earth and Fire; for as the
former are of a temperate and middle Complexion in the firſt and ſecond
qualitiyes, ſo theſe latter are of an extreme one, or are bodyes either too thick or
too ſubtile, ſo that the thickneſſe does not admitt ſome bodyes, and the ſubtilety
does indeed admitt ſome but then it penetrates and burns them. But that men can
live in Subterraneous Caves is occaſioned by the Air deſcending thither and filling
thoſe places leaſt there ſhould be any Vacuum. But here we ſpeak of every Element
apart. In the Water Fiſhes live in incredible numbers, variety and fruitfulneſſe, and
even the biggeſt of all Animalls. In the Air live Men, fourfooted Beaſts, Birds,
Worms and Inſects. Whatſoever is ſaid of Spirits wandering in the ſecret parts of
the Earth is another thinge, for they are not Animalls.
But as for the Fire, there are no Animalls ſaid to live in it except the Salamander.
Now the Salamander is a creeping worm not much unlike a Lizard, but of a ſlower
pace, bigger head and different Colour, ſuch as I remember ſeeing in the Alps
under the mountein Spulga coming out of the Rocks after Thunder and Rain and
lying in the way. And a Country man of the place told me it was called Ein
Molch; it had round about it a clammy and viſcous moiſtneſſe, by the Virtue of
which it freely paſſes though the Fire without Harm.
But the Salamander of the Philoſophers is very different from this, although it be
likened to it. For that of the Philoſophers is born in Fire. This is not ſo with the
common Salamander, but if it falls into the Fire by reaſon of its extreme coldneſſe
and moiſture it is not preſently burnt, but can freely paſſe through the Flame that
is Hot and Dry. This common Salamander is Cold and Moiſt, for every thinge
participates of the Nature of the Mother’s womb and reſembles the place and
country of its production. Fire produces nothing but what is Hot and Dry as
being like to itſelf; on the contrary, the Moiſt and Cold Caverns of Rocks being full
of water ſend forth this moiſt and cold Vermin. The Philoſophickal Salamander by
the Similitude of its Nature rejoyces in Fire; the common Salamander by the
Contrariety of Nature extinguiſhes it or for ſome time repells its force.
They ſay that the Fly Pyrauſtes is generated in Fire and flyes out of the Braſs
Furnaces in Cyprus. But no man has believed this to be true but in an Allegorye.
For Fire if it be continued deſtroys and corrupts the bodyes of any Animalls
whatſoever, ſeeing it can burn Earth into Glaſſe and the moſt ſolid Timber and all
other compounded thinges into Aſhes, ſome few excepted to wit ſuch as are
Mercuriall, which either wholly remain or wholly fly away out of the fire without
any ſeparation being made of their parts. For Vulcan is a moſt cruell Executioner
who calls all thinges that are mixed and compounded of Elements to his Tryall
and Judgement. Some few only are excepted from his Tribunall by the ſpeciall
86
Privilege and Indulgence of Nature, who is Empreſſe of all thinges. Over theſe he
has no right by himſelf alone, unleſſe he joins to him the Areopagites as other
aſſiſtant Judges. And Salamanders are ſuch as are above his Violence, which they
do not fear.
Avicenna in his Porta reckons up the various Temperaments of bodyes which are
all unequall and therefore corruptible by Fire and other injuries. But He affirms
that there is one exactly equall which has as much Heat as Cold and as much
Dryneſſe as Moiſture, not according to Weight but Juſtice as the Phyſitians term it;
and this is that which is more Patient then Agent, in which if Fire endeavours to
reſolve Water its adverſary into Air which is its Familiar, the Earth does not admitt
this Reſolution becauſe it is incorporated with Water. And the Internall Fire of the
Compound doth by its ſuffrage approve this pretence of the Earth, becauſe he is
the intimate Friend of the Earth. Therefore Vulcan's Judgement ceaſes, and he uſes
yet another Intrigue by endeavouring to burn the Earth into cinders as he is
accuſtomed to do. But Water adhering to Earth brings exceptions againſt him and
ſhows that ſhe is united to the Earth and the Air, as the Fire by one ſide is to the
Earth. Therefore he that would reduce the Earth to Aſhes would likewiſe reduce
the other Elements, and ſo Vulcan being diſappointed ſuſpends his Judgement
leaſt He ſhould become ridiculous.
This Body is like the Trueſt Salamander, in which the Elements are Equalled by
the Balance of their Powers. Concerning this Roſarius out of Geber ſaith: Likewiſe
the Philoſopher would have the Subſtances of Mercury mortified, but naturally his
Mercury is in that Venerable Stone as is plain to all men. And a little further on:
Alſo the Philoſopher would have the Subſtances of Mercury Fixed, as is evident
becauſe he teacheth the ways of Fixing with many Cautions and Devices. But who
can doubt the Subſtance of that Precious Stone to be moſt Fixed? Certainly no man
that knows it. By which it appears that the Stone is by Fixation to be reduced to
the Nature of the Salamander, that is to the greateſt Fixedneſſe which neither
declines nor refuſes Fire. For it is no Salamander till it has learnt to endure Fire
with the utmoſt patience, which muſt of neceſſitye be effected in long proceſſe of
time.
Hereafter in the 35th Emblematicall diſcourſe it will be ſhowne how Achilles and
Triptolemus were by night placed under embers of Fire till they could endure the
moſt Vehement Heat, thus by uſe and cuſtom attaining to the propertyes of a
Salamander. For Cuſtom is a ſecond Nature. But unleſſe Nature communicates
the Power and as a Miſtreſſe begins the Alteration, Cuſtom will be able to do little
or nothing. And thence it is impoſſible to fix Ice at the Fire, but to fix Chriſtall is
poſſible becauſe Nature has begun it. The ſame muſt be thought of Watery and
Volatile Mercury, which in its own Nature cannot be Fixed but by the Marriage
and Coition of Sulphur, which is the Philoſophickal Tincture and Fixes all flying
Spirits.
87
EMBLEMA XXX.
Sol indiget Lunâ, ut gallus gallinâ.
(Luna is as requiſite to Sol as a Hen is to a Cock.)
E PIGRAMMA XXX.
O Sol, ſolus agis nil, ſi non uiribus adſim,
Vt ſine gallinæ eſt gallus inanis ope.
Auxiliumque tuum præſens ego Luna uiciſſim
Poſtulo, gallinæ gallus ut expetitur.
Quæ natura ſimul coniungi flagitat, ille eſt
Mentis inops, uinclis qui religare uelit.
88
D ISCOURSE XXX.
Avicenna in his Book de Anima does ſeverall times offer us this admonition: That
no Eggs ſhould be taken by the Artiſt unleſſe they were of ſuch Hens as had been
trod by a Cock. That is that the Female ſubject is of no Value without the virtue of
the Male, and ſo on the contrary that the Cock is of no uſe without the Hen. For
theſe two ſexes are to be joined in the Philoſophickal Coop, and that ſo
multiplication may from thence proceed. But the Philoſophers do more eſpecially
uſe this ſimilitude of a Cock becauſe he has a nearer correſpondence with the
Power of the Sulphur than the Male of any other kind of Bird, ſeeing one Cock can
preſide over many Hens and does not eaſily endure any Rivall upon the
Territoryes of his own Dunghill, for He knows and eſteems himſelf to be ſufficient
for all his mates. He is the Bird of Mars, made as the Poets feign by the
tranſformation of the boy Gallus, whoſe buſineſſe it was to watch the Sun leaſt he
ſhould eſpye the Adultery which Mars committed with Venus; and He is very
Martiall in war, for He will fight with his Enemy even till death. In the
Philoſophickal work he repreſents the Sun, as the Hen does the Moon For there is
the ſame neceſſitye of joining Sol with Luna as the Cock with the Hen. The Cock is
likewiſe raiſed to the Sun, with whom He both riſes and goes to ſleep. He often
looks up to Heaven and erects his Tayle on high, which falls in the ſhape of a
ſickle. He fights for his Hens againſt Serpents, He is the forerunner of Light and is
Loved by Latona becauſe he was preſent at her delivery. For Latona brought forth
Sol and Luna, from whence the Cock is appropriated both to the Mother and the
Son.
But Sol, Luna and Latona agree with Chymicall ſubjects and ſo do the Cock and
Hen, for theſe two came out of Eggs and do likewiſe produce eggs, from whence
their Chickens may be Hatched. So likewiſe the Philoſophers have their Eggs,
which will paſſe into birds of the ſame kind if they are nouriſhed with a temperate
heat ſuch as the heat of a Hen that ſetts, remaining upon them continually. For
whereas among other Birds the male ſetts upon the Eggs, the Cock only ſhows
himſelf to be free from that Office and Burden, and all the care and labour of
hatching the Chickens and breeding them up muſt lye upon the Hen. Wherein her
Diligence and Induſtry is very remarkable; with what haſte ſhe eats and drinks
and performs all the neceſſaryes of Nature, that ſhe may run back to her Eggs leaſt
they ſhould grow cold. Then with Force and Eagerneſſe ſhe defends her Chickens;
with how loud a voice like that of a Bell ſhe calls and clucks them together; with
what Endeavour ſhe Bruiſes and Cutts with her Bill as with a Knife the harder
crumbs or grains which ſhe adminiſters to them. All of which is the work of
Nature, and worthy of our admiration. And all this is done leaſt Eggs ſhould be
wanting for the food of mankind or the production of Chickens.
89
After the ſame manner the Philoſopher or Artiſt makes like proviſion for all his
operations. For he gathers his Eggs from ſuch places where a Cock has been
treading and diligently ſearches leaſt there be joined eggs; after that he cleanſes,
ſeparates and diſpoſes them in his Veſſels, as in Neſts; he adminiſters proper heat
to them by which from day to day the ſubjects commixed among themſelves do
mutually Act and Suffer, till after a long time paſſing through various colours they
at laſt arrive at one Colour and Eſſence. In which work Solution, Coagulation,
Sublimation, Aſcenſion, Deſcenſion, Diſtillation, Calcination and Fixion muſt be
performed as intermediate operations. For what is hard and compact cannot be
altered, therefore Solution muſt precede and that ſo it may grow ſoft and liquid.
But when a thinge is diſſolved then it muſt be Coagulated not to its former
Hardneſſe but to a Tractableneſſe proportionate to that of Honey. Then
Sublimation ſeparates the Pure from the Impure and makes what was Vile become
Honourable, advancing inferiour to a ſuperiour. Whence this cannot be wanting,
but is like the miſtreſſe and governeſſe of all the reſt. While this Sublimation is
performed ſome parts mount upwards, which is Aſcenſion, and others fall
downwards which is Deſcenſion: afterwards, Diſtillation being often repeated
clarifies the whole, and that which remains at the bottom is Calcined. Then both
are fixed and the work is perfected. But a man may in truth reduce all theſe
ſpeciall operations to one generall, which is Coction. For as ſeverall Chickens
which run about are clucked together under one Hen who is their Mother and
Nurſe, ſo theſe various courſes and methods of operation run all into one, which is
the work of the woman: that is, Coction.
It is the Moon that muſt be exalted to the Sublimeneſſe of the Sun, and all theſe
thinges are tranſacted for her ſake. That is the finall intent: a durable Marriage
between the Sun and Moon, and when that is accompliſhed all embaſſies,
contracts, congreſſes, miſtruſts ſhall have an End. There will be one bed and one
fleſh, the love mutuall and conſtant, the league indiſſolvable, the peace eternall.
The Sun without the Moon is of no great Eſteem, and the Moon without the Sun is
of an abject condition and Vile Originall. But it is from her Huſband the Sun that
ſhe receives Splendour, Dignity and Strength or Firmeneſſe both of Mind and
Body. And the Sun obtains from the Moon the Multiplication of his Offſpring and
the Propagation of his Kind. Hence Roſarius ſays, if there were only one of them in
our Stone the Medicine would never flow eaſily nor give the Tincture; nor if it did
give it, it would not Tinge but for as much as was in it, and the remainder and
Mercury would Fly away in Smoak, becauſe a Receptacle of the Tincture would
not be in it. And Geber in Libro Examinum proves that if Sol and Luna are
incorporated together with Art they are not eaſily to be ſeparated.
90
EMBLEMA XXXI.
Rex natans in mari, clamns altâ uoce: Qui me eripiet, ingens præmium habebit.
(The King ſwimming in the Sea cryes out with a Loud Voice:
He that delivers me ſhall have a great reward.)
E PIGRAMMA XXXI.
Rex Diadema caput cui prægrauat, æquore uaſto
Innatat, atque altis uocibus uſus ait:
Cur non fertis opem? Cur non accurritis omnes,
Quos ereptus aquis ſorte beare queo?
In mea, ſi ſapitis, me regna reducite, nec uos
Pauperies premet aut corporis ulla lues.
91
D ISCOURSE XXXI.
The firſt Rudiments of all Diſcipline were anciently the knowledge of ſwimming
and the inſtitution of letters; and from thence it uſed to be ſaid of a rude
unpoliſhed man that he could neither ſwim nor read. For the Ancients conſidered
that ſwimming would of ten times prove a means to ſave and deliver the Body
from the dangers of the Water, as the knowledge of letters would the mind amidſt
all the waves of Fortune. Swimming is as neceſſary in War as Learning is at home
in times of peace. And as we obſerve that Brutes have their Weapons in readineſſe
and provided by Nature, but that Man inſtead thereof has his wit and hands given
him againſt all externall Force, that as one contrives his Arms ſo the others may
uſe them, ſo the ſame beaſts have the faculty of ſwimming naturally implanted in
them, which man has not. For the very Young often will eſcape from thoſe waters
in which the ſtrongeſt and moſt ſkillfull man will be drowned. It was therefore
needfull to enjoin the exerciſe of ſwimming to children, it being uſefull towards
the preſervation of their lives, ſo that what was wanting by Nature might be
ſupplyed by the Uſe of Art.
The ſame Exerciſe has been uſed by Noblemen, Princes and Kings for the
ſafeguard of their Perſons, for they who are deſcended from Noble blood are not
wholly Exempted from the chances of fortune, but expoſed to them as well as
other Men. If Dionyſius had neither underſtood ſwimming nor letters when he
was driven out of his Kingdom of Sicily as a Tyrant, he would have periſhed in the
waves of the Sea when he was ſhipwrecked in the Corinthian gulf. Neither could
he have come to Corinthus, there to ſet up a School to teach boyes and profeſs
humane learning. From a King being made a Schoolmaſter and wielding a rod
inſtead of a Scepter, the proverb originated: 'Dionyſius of Corinth'. In like manner,
if the Royall Son of the Philoſophers had not been able to ſwim, no man would
have heard his Voice nor retrieved him, he being long ſince drowned in the
Waters. Swimming therefore is neceſſary and uſefull to all degrees of men, for
altho' it cannot preſently deliver a man from the ſurges of the Vaſt Ocean, yet it
gives him time of Life whereby he may be ſaved by others.
But this King of whom we ſpeak ſuſtains himſelf the longeſt time of all and cryes
out even to this day, tho' he be ſeen or heard by a very Few, by reaſon of the
Vaſtneſſe of the Sea and his remoteneſſe. For by chance in ſwimming he hath
touched upon a Rock or a Very great Stone where he may remain if the Waves
prevail. But it may be aſked what kind of Sea this is? I anſwer it is the Erythræan
or the Red Sea, ſubject to the Tropick of Cancer, in whoſe Bottom there lies the
moſt abundant Quantity of Magnets. It is not ſafe for ſhips compacted of or laden
92
with Iron to ſail in it, for they may eaſily be drawn to the bottom by the Force of
the Magnets. Which the King before mentioned being ignorant of, and the reſt
periſhing when their ſhip ſank, he alone eſcaped by ſwimming. A Crown ſtill
remained upon him, ſhining like Glorious Rubies, by which he might eaſily be
known and reſtored to his Kingdom.
But what are theſe good things which this Royall Son is able and willing to beſtow
on him by whom he ſhould be reſtored to his own Kingdom? Certainly not ſuch
rewards as Ptolemy the laſt King of Egypt beſtowed on Pompey, by whom his
Father was reſtored to that Kingdom; to wit, Perfidiouſneſs and Death. Rather, he
beſtows Health, the removall of diſeaſes, the preſervation of life free from the
burden of things neceſſary, and the Horn of Plenty with Love and Honour- which
being things not mean and ordinary, but the chief Vitalicks and ornaments of this
Life. Who, except he be ſtupid would not deſire them? Who would not ſwim to
Him? Who would not ſtretch forth his hand and draw him into the Boat? But care
muſt be taken leaſt in reſcuing this Prince his Diadem ſhould fall into the Sea. For
then He would ſcarce be acknowledged for the King or received by his Subjects,
becauſe then would periſh the Pyropus Venerabili, and the Bezoar Stone aſſuring
Health to all men would Vaniſh quite away. Hence the Roſary quotes Ariſtotle in
theſe Words: Chooſe Thyſelf a Stone, that by which Kings are revered in their
Diadems, and by which Phyſicians can cure their Patients, becauſe it is near to the
Fire. For without a Medicinall Virtue a Crown would be of no Value.
But what is to be done to the King when he is ſo delivered? Firſt from thoſe Waters
he had received in He muſt be relieved by Sudorificks, from Cold by the Heat of
Fire, from the Numbneſſe of his Limbs by Baths moderately Hot, from Hunger
and want of food by the Adminiſtration of a convenient Diet and from other
externall maladies by their contraries and Health-reſtoring Remedies. Then muſt a
Royall match be provided, from which in due time there ſhall ariſe from him an
offſpring moſt deſirable, moſt beloved by all men, moſt beautifull and moſt
fruitfull, who ſhall excell all his Anceſtors in Strength, Kingdom, Dominions,
People, Riches and Wealth, and ſhall ſubdue his Enemyes not by War but
Gentleneſſe, not by Tyranny but Clemency, which is genuine and peculiar to Him.
93
EMBLEMA XXXII.
Corallus ſub aquis ut creſcit & aëre induratur, ſic lapis.
[As Corall grows under Water and is hardened by the Air, ſo alſo is the Stone.]
E PIGRAMMA XXXII.
Planta maris uegetans Siculi ſub fluctibus uda
Ramos ſub tepidis multiplicauit aquis.
Illa, CORALLUS, habet nomen ſibi, durior exit,
Cum Boreas rigido mittit ab axe gelu:
Fit lapis, & rubeum multâ cum fronte colorem
Poſſidet: hæc Phyſicæ eſt apta figura Petræ.
94
D ISCOURSE XXXII.
The Philoſophers call their Stone a Vegetable becauſe it Vegetates, grows and is
increaſed and multiplies like a plant. This indeed to the ignorant ſeems ſtrange
and contrary to the Truth, it being as they think manifeſt that Stones do neither
Vegetate nor grow after this manner, nor that this can any ways appertain to ſuch
Metalls as may be liquefied or melted. But they are deceived in their Judgements;
for whatever is unknown to them, that they believe not to be in Nature, meaſuring
the immenſity of the Univerſe by their own Capacities. For who would ever have
believed that a Stone ſhould grow under waters or a plant there generated ſhould
become a Stone, unleſſe Experience and the credible teſtimony of Writers had
confirmed it? Where does that petrifying, where does that tingeing Virtue which
hardeneth and tingeth Corall, Exiſt? Whether in that Water or in the Air? We may
reaſonably believe it to be as they affirme a ſoft and flexible plant whilſt it is under
the Waters, yet of a Very earthy Nature, which when it is cut and expoſed to the
cold winds becomes hard and may be broken like a Stone. For the watery parts
which abound are dryed up by a cold and dry Air (for Northern Winds bring
dryneſſe along with them), and the Earthy body which remains, having cold and
dryneſſe as its qualities, is congealed. For conſtriction or the binding faculty is the
Earth's alone; it does not exiſt in the Water or Air, as each element has its genuine
or proper qualities.
The Sea likewiſe in other places produces three Medicinall Stones, taken partly
from the Vegetable kind, partly from the Animal, or rather from the hidden
Secrets of Nature, as Pearl, Amber and Amber Gryſe. The Production of Pearls
and the way of taking them is known to Us, but not of the reſt. Amber is gathered
upon the Sea Coaſts of Scandinavia after a moſt Vehement north-weſterly wind
has blown, which without doubt drives it through the Waters to the Shore after it
has boyled out of the Earth into the Veins of the Sea. For we have ſeen ſome Veins
of Iron and Silver growing in the Amber, which thing could not be done but in the
Earth. But that Flies, Gnatts, Spiders, Butterflies, Froggs and Serpents ſhould be
ſeen in ſome pieces of it (we ourſelves having had 120 beads turned out of Amber,
which did every one contain ſome Flies, Gnatts, Spiders and Butterflies; and one of
them, not without a ſingular miracle of Nature, had nine of them together)
happens by the influence and imagination of the Heavens, as we have elſewhere
demonſtrated. That Amber Gryſe is found after the ſame manner upon the Shores
of the Eaſt and Weſt Indies cannot be denyed, and tho' ſome declare it to be the
Juice or Gum of Trees (as they do the Amber before mentioned) yet they who
conceive it to be produced out of the Veins of the Earth do judge more probably.
95
For Trees that bear Amber or Amber Gryſe have not been ſeen in any place,
although if ſuch Trees be they muſt certainly grow in open Air, and not under
water. We therefore aſcribe both ſorts of Amber to Subterraneous Veins or Stones,
as we do Pearls to Zoophyra or Plant-animals, and Corall to the Vegetables.
The Stone of the Philoſophers is likened to theſe, and eſpecially to Corall. For as
Corall grows in the Waters and draws Nutriment from the Earth, ſo alſo the
Philoſophick Stone is concreted out of Mercuriall water and has taken thence
whatever is worthy in it towards its own Augmentation, the Superfluous Moiſture
having expired. The Red Colour likewiſe is raiſed upon the Corall by the
coagulation which the Ancients call the Tincture of Coralls, and ſo it is in the
Phyſicall Stone, which becomes red in the laſt Congelation and appears like the
red Corall which is the Tincture. But the Corall grows hard by the Cold and drye,
the Stone by the Hot and drye, which being augmented it likewiſe diſſolves:
contrary to the Nature of other Stones, which do indeed diſſolve, but run into
glaſſe, which thinge is in no wiſe agreeable to this.
And as Corall is prepared into ſeverall Medicines of great Virtue, ſo alſo hath the
Philoſophickal Corall tranſferred into itſelf the virtues of all Herbs, and can alone
performe as much as the medicines of all Vegetables. For the Celeſtiall Sun who
infuſes a medicinall Virtue of Efficacy to Vegetables has given more to this Son of
his than to all others. This is the Philoſophickal Corall, vegetable, animall, and
minerall, which lyes hid in the Vaſt Ocean and is not known, unleſſe it be put into
the hands and expoſed to the Eyes of the Ignorant. But it muſt be cut off whilſt it is
under the Waters, and that with Very Great Caution leaſt it loſe its juice and blood
and nothing remain but a Terreſtriall Chaos without its True Forme. For herein
conſiſts all the difficulty of gathering Corall. By theſe Waters I underſtand the
Superfluous humidity which kills the Stone, which does not ſuffer the Coralline
Redneſſe to appear and which admitts of no Coagulation, unleſſe it be ſeparated.
96
EMBLEMA XXXIII.
Hermaphroditus mortuo ſimilis, in tenebris iacens, igne indigit.
(The Hermaphrodite, lying like a dead man in darkneſſe, wants Fire. )
E PIGRAMMA XXXIII.
Ille bicpes gemini ſexus, en funeris inſtar
Apparet, poſtquam eſt humiditatis inops:
Nocte tenebrosâ ſi conditur, indiget igne,
Hunc illi præſtes, & modo uita redit.
Omnis in igne latet lapidis uis, omnis in auro
Sulphuris, argento Mercurii uigor est.
97
D ISCOURSE XXXIII.
It is remarkable in Nature that at the coming on of Winter Froggs and Leaches lye
under Water as if they were dead, and in the Spring by the Operation of the Sun's
heat recover ſenſe and motion ſo as to be able to perform the Actions of a ſenſible
life. But if in the Winter time they be found in the Waters and brought into Warm
Air or a Stove, immediately they begin to move as in Summer. From whence it
appears that nothing is wanting to them but Externall Heat to excite the Naturall
Internall heat and bring it to Action.
After the ſame manner do the Philoſophers ſpeak of their Hermaphrodite. For if he
appears dead as he lyes in darkneſſe he then requires the Heat of Fire. But he is
ſaid to lye in darkneſſe as being left in a dark and moſt cold Winter's night, that is
he remains in Blackneſſe, which is a ſign of Cold, from which he ought by a
greater intenſity of Fire to be brought to Whiteneſſe and by a greater ſtill to
Redneſſe. For without Heat, as Bodillus in the Turba ſays, nothing is generated.
And a Bath of intenſe heat cauſeth a Body to periſh, but if it be cold it drives it
away. But if it be temperate it becomes agreeable and pleaſant to the Body.
Bonellus likewiſe ſays: “All things that live do alſo die according to God's pleaſure.
Therefore that Nature from whom moiſture is taken, when it is expoſed by night,
ſeems like a dead man; and then that Nature wants fire till the Body and Spirit of
it be turned into Earth, and then it becomes duſt like a dead man in his Tomb.
Theſe things being accompliſhed God reſtores the Spirit and Soul to it, and all
infirmity being taken away our Nature is comforted and amended. It is requiſite
therefore to burn that Matter without fear.” Fire therefore, which deſtroys all other
things, repairs this and is its life as it is their Death.
One only Phoenix there is, which is reſtored by Fire, renewed by Flames and
revived out of Aſhes; and this, being known only to the Philoſophers, is burnt and
reſtored to life, whatever others fabulouſly may report of a certain Bird that never
yet was ſeen or had any Being. Likewiſe, the Hermaphrodite of which the
Philoſophers ſpeak is of a mixed Nature, Male and Female, one of which paſſes
into the other by the Operation of Heat. For from a female it becomes a male,
which ought not to ſeem ſtrange in the Work of the Philoſophers, ſince if Hiſtory
may be Credited ſeverall examples of it may be found. The Poets mention the ſex
changes of Cenea, Iphin and Tireſiam, as deſcribed by Pontanus and Auſonius.
Likewiſe, when Licinius Craſſus and C. Caſſius Longinus were Conſuls a boy was
made of a Virgin, and Licinius Mutianus as he is quoted by Pliny relates that he
had ſeen one Ariſtontem whoſe name had been Ariſtuſae and that ſhe had been
marryed, but that ſhe ſoon after had a beard, and manhood appearing the ſame
98
perſon became a Huſband. Pliny himſelf ſays that in Africa he ſaw Lucius
Coſſicius, a Citizen of Tiſdritanum, changed into a man upon the day of his
marriage.
Theſe things are true and might be proved by many other Examples if there were
occaſion, for it is certain that by the increaſe of heat the genitall parts are thruſt out
of the Body: for ſeeing a Woman is much colder than a male, and has thoſe parts
hidden within which a man has outwardly, hereupon Nature being dubious
whether ſhe ſhould generate a man or a woman expreſſes a woman outwardly,
tho' inwardly ſhe intended a man. For which reaſon as heat and motion increaſe
with Age the hidden parts break forth and become apparent. After the ſame
manner it is with the Philoſophers, for by the increaſe of heat their woman
becomes a man; that is, their Hermaphrodite loſes the female ſex and becomes a
man ſtout and grave, having nothing in him of Effeminate Softneſſe and Levity. So
we ſometime ſince ſaw a noble youth that was an Hermaphrodite changed, or
rather promoted into a perfect man not uncapable (as it was hoped) of getting
Children, for a New Paſſage was made through the Yard which wanted one, and
the other appertaining to the Woman was ſtopped. And this piece of Surgery was
performed by Caſpar Tagliacotio, that famous Surgeon of Bologna.
The Philoſophers are not without theſe manuall operations, for when the coldneſſe
and the moiſtneſſe of the Moon appears, that they call the Woman; and when the
heat and dryneſſe of the Sun appears, that is the Man. When all theſe four qualities
are preſent together that is their Rebis or Hermaphrodite, and thus converſion of
the Woman- that is, of coldneſſe and moiſture- may Eaſily be made into the Man,
which is done by the Sole Heat of Fire, as hath been ſaid. For Heat ſequeſters and
ſeparates the ſuperfluityes of Moiſture and will Eſtabliſh the Idea of the
Philoſophickal Subject, which is the Tincture.
99
EMBLEMA XXXIV.
In balneis concipitur, & in aëre naſcitur, rubeus uero factus
graditur ſuper aquas.
(He is conceived in Baths, born in the Air, and being made Red
he walks upon the Waters. )
E PIGRAMMA XXXIV.
Balnea conceptu pueri, natalibus aër
Splendet, & hinc rubeus ſub pede cernit aquas.
Fitque ſuper montana cacumina candidus ille,
Qui remanct doctis unica cura uiris.
Eſt lapis, & non eſt, cœli quod nobile Donum,
Dante DEO felix, ſi quis habebit, erit.
100
D ISCOURSE XXXIV.
The Opinion or Flattery of men has attributed ſeverall wonderfull Births or
Originalls to ſome perſons above others, but they are certainly fabulous. So it is
ſaid that Alexander the Great was not begot by Philip King of Macedonia but by
Jupiter Hammon, Romulus and Remus were begot by Mars, and Plato ſprang
from the Virgin Perictio, who conceived by a Phantaſme of Apollo. So the
Heathens would demonſtrate themſelves to be born from the Gods, as alſo
Theſſalus the Son of Hippocrates the Phyſician would among other things
perſuade the Athenians that he was born from Apollo. But we give no credit to
theſe things, for we know that they from whom they would deduce their Originall
were neither men nor Gods, and if there were any Heroes among Mortalls who
might have been reputed Divine we think it to have proceeded from the flattery of
their ſubjects or diſciples, ſpeaking and writing great things of them however falſe
to gain a reputation of them in the world.
But it is a different thing that the Philoſophers aſcribe an unuſuall Conception and
Nativity to their Son, for he hath ſomething above all other things born in the
World; for he is conceived in Baths, and born in the Air. We know that Women
being barren by reaſon of too much coldneſſe and dryneſſe are much helped by hot
baths, ſo as to be made able and fit for conception, but that ſuch conception ought
to be or can be in ſuch Baths is a thing unheard of that ſeems to be peculiar to him
alone from the wonderfull power of Nature, which is far different from all others.
In other places they ſay that his conception ought to be in the bottom of the Veſſell
and his birth in the Alembeck: which opinion is ſtill more clear. For the waters of
the Baths, if there be any, will neither be in the top nor in the middle but in the
bottom of the veſſell, and in the Alembeck will be vapours that are aeriall.
Therefore when conception is made he aſcends into the Alembeck and his Birth
appears in a White Colour. Blackneſſe rules in the bottom, of this ſaith the Roſary:
“It is conception when the Earth is diſſolved into a black powder and begins to
retain ſomewhat of the Mercury, for then the male acts upon the female, that is,
Azoth upon the Earth.” And a little after: “Conception and Diſpenſation is made
in Putrefaction in the bottom of the Veſſell, and the generation of things is made in
the Air, to wit, in the Head of the Veſſell that is the Alembeck.” And conception in
Baths is nothing but putrefaction in Dung, for the ſame Roſary proceeds, “The
Body does nothing unleſſe it be putrefied, and it cannot be putrefied but with
Mercury”; and again, “Let putrefaction be made with the moſt gentle heat of
warm and moiſt dung, and by no other thing ſo that no thing aſcend, for if any
thing doth aſcend there would be a ſeparation of the parts, which ought not to be
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till the male and female be perfectly joined together and one receives the other,
whoſe ſign of perfect ſolution is blackneſſe in the ſuperficies.” His birth is white,
which is made on the Top of mountains, that is, in the Air or the Alembeck. This is
explained by Roſinus ad Euthiciam: “After this manner the wiſe man ſaid, take
things out of their mines and exalt them to higher places, and ſend them from the
Top of their Mountains and reduce them to their roots. By Mountains he ſignifies
Cucurbites, and by the Tops of Mountains Alembecks, and to ſend after that way
of ſpeaking is to receive the Waters of them through an Alembeck in a Receiver,
and to reduce to their roots is to carry back to that from which they proceed. And
he calls Cucurbites mountains becauſe Sol and Luna are found in mountains; ſo
alſo in their Mountains, which are Cucurbites, their Sol and Luna is generated.”
And ſo far this Author. Afterwards: “The Son of the Philoſophers becomes red and
begins to go upon the Waters, that is upon Metalls melted by Fire which ſtand in
the form of a Mercuriall Water. For he is the Lord of Waters, upon which he
exerciſes Authority as Neptune is King of the Sea and poſſeſſor of Mountains.”
Stories tell us of Xerxes King of Perſia, who being upon an expedition into Greece
ſent an Embaſſy to the Sea and to the Mountain Athos, ſo that they would do him
no wrong, either that by its waves or this by the force of Fire, otherwiſe he would
be revenged upon them both. But the Tale was told to them that were deaf, for the
ſea drowned ſome of his Ships, and Athos deſtroyed not a few of them by Fire.
Hereupon the King being angry did as Lord of the Sea and Mountains command a
certain number of Stripes to be inflicted upon the firſt, and a great part of the
mountain to be caſt into the Sea. But theſe things demonſtrate rather the raſhneſſe
than prudence of ſo great a King.
But he concerning whom we ſpeak purgeth all Waters from Obſtacles and
Impurities, not only by his Command but by his Actions, and freely paſſes
through them; and what is ſtill more wondrous congeals them, that the ſame
Waters in which Ships ſailed before may by their hardneſſe endure his charriot
wheels. He levels Mountains with Valleys and fears not the flames of Fire, and
therefore marches without oppoſition from the Columns of Hercules to the utmoſt
coaſts of India, where are ſeated the Columns of Dionyſus.
102
EMBLEMA XXXV.
Ceres Triptolemum, Thetis Achillem, ut ſub igne morari aſſuefecit,
ſic artifex lapidem.
(As Ceres accuſtomed Triptolemus and Thetis accuſtomed Achilles to abide Fire,
ſo alſo doth the Artiſt the Stone.)
E PIGRAMMA XXXV.
Reſpice Triptolemum, durumque in prælio Achillem,
Matre docente, æſtus ut didicêre graues.
Illum Diua Ceres, Thetis hunc durabat in igne.
Noctu, lacte ferens ubera plena die:
Haud ſecus aſſueſcat medicina beata Sophorum,
Quàm puer ad mammas, ut queat igne fruit.
103
D ISCOURSE XXXV.
Lycurgus that Famous Lawgiver of Sparta explained to the people in the Theater
by a familiar inſtance how prevalent Cuſtom will be, whether it is good or bad. He
brought two whelps, both from one litter, and between them placed a pot full of
pulſe and a Hare. One immediately left his Food to follow the Hare becauſe that
had been his Cuſtom as well as Nature, the other fell on and diſpatched his
porridge becauſe that was what he had been bred to do. Behold, ſaid he, what
Education and early Cuſtom from youth upwards can effect in thoſe whom
Nature hath produced both Equall and alike.
After this manner, therefore, it is convenient to amend and direct Nature to the
beſt things, for ſhe is pliable as Wax either to Vice or Virtue. What they
demonſtrated to be true in Politicks, the Philoſophers do agree to be true alſo in
Phyſicks. The Examples of the whole world ſhow how cuſtom prevails over Man
and Beaſt, and ſeverall occur likewiſe in Vegetables, but in Mineralls and Metallick
bodyes we have not ſo much experience. Nevertheleſſe it is by much Uſe and
Cuſtom that the Philoſophers fix their Stone in Fire proper for it, and this they
declare in abundance of their Writings. For it muſt be nouriſhed by fire as a child
by milk upon its mother's breaſts. Hence Emiganus ſays, “Behold the Infant
ſucking and hinder him not.” And Bodillus ſays, “The babe being born is
nouriſhed by Milk and Fire alone, and by little and little whilſt he is Very Young,
and the more he is burnt his bones are ſtrengthened untill he is brought to Youth,
and having attained to that he is able to provide for himſelfe.” Arnold in the
Roſary, Book 2 Chapter 7 ſays, “Yet the Medicine muſt be long time roaſted by Fire
and nouriſhed as a child by the breaſt.”
The Ancient Philoſophers would demonſtrate theſe very things by the Allegories
of Triptolemus and Achilles, and their lyeing under Fires to be hardened by them,
ſince each of them denote nothing Elſe but the Chemicall Subject, for otherwiſe it
would be an inſipid fable unfit to be applied to morality and not worthy of the
conſideration of the learned. Ceres as a Nurſe nouriſhed Triptolemus all day with
her milk and at night placed him in the Fires, by which means the boy being very
well grown his Father Eleuſius at a certain ſeaſon took notice of it. Hence Ceres
killed Eleuſius and gave the boy Triptolemus a charriot drawn by Serpents, in
which he paſſed through the Air into all parts of the world and taught Mankind
how to ſow Corn. Now this Triptolemus is the Philoſophick Tincture nouriſhed by
Fire after the ſame manner, which being carried by ſerpents, that is Mercury,
taught men how the Philoſophers ſhould caſt their ſeeds into the Earth.
104
Theſe ſame things are aſcribed to Oſiris, who went round the Earth for the ſame
reaſon as we have demonſtrated in another place, and to Dionyſus who travelled
through the world to teach men the Uſe of Wine. For theſe three, Triptolemus,
Dionyſus, and Oſiris have one deſign and office and indeed are one thing, as is
likewiſe Achilles, who was the ſtrongeſt man that was ſent to the Trojan War. His
Father was Peleus, that is the Earth or the Mountain Peleus. His mother was
Thetis or the Goddeſſe of the Sea or Waters, and from theſe Achilles was born. But
at their Nuptialls the Apple of Eris or diſcord was produced which was the firſt
cauſe of the Trojan War. Achilles therefore being ſprung from ſuch a marriage, no
wonder if he be the chief Inſtrument of that war. Achilles is likewiſe ſaid to be
hardened by his Mother after the ſame manner as Triptolemus was before, and of
this we have treated at large in the ſixth book of our Hieroglyphicks.
Therefore the Nutriment of the Stone is Fire, but it is not from thence as ſome
Vainly think that it is extended into length, breadth, and depth, nor receives
increaſe in weight, for it acquires only Virtue, Maturity and Colour from the Fire.
All other things are Vitalicks and Proviſion that it brings along with itſelf. For
when from diverſe places its parts are gathered, purged and conjoined, it has all
things requiſite for it in itſelf. Whence this verſe of the Philoſopher in the Roſary:
“This ſtinking water contains everything it needs.” For from the Beginning to the
Very End nothing that is foreign is added to it, unleſſe it be Homogeneous, and
nothing is ſeparated but what is Heterogeneous. But every man ought to take care
that he be very well acquainted with thoſe Dragons that are to be joined to the
Charriot of Triptolemus before he undertake any thing, for they are Winged and
Volatile, and if you deſire to know them you will find them in the Philoſophickal
Dung. For they are Dung and generated from Dung, and are that Veſſel which
Maria affirms not to be Necromantick but that Regiment of your Fire without
which You will effect nothing. I have diſcloſed the Truth to You which I have
gathered out of the monuments of the Ancients by incredible labour and the
expenſe of many years.
105
EMBLEMA XXXVI.
Lapis projectus eſt in terrras, & in montibus exaltatus, & in aëre habitat,
& in flumine paſcitur, id eſt, Mercurius.
[The Stone that is Mercury, is caſt upon the Earth, exalted on Mountains,
reſides in theAir, and is nouriſhed in the Waters.]
E PIGRAMMA XXXVI.
Vlle recrementum fertur LAPIS atque iacere
Forte uiis, ſibi ut hinc diues inopsque parent.
Montibus in ſummis alii ſtatuêre, per auras
Aëris, at paſciper fluuios alii.
Omnia uero ſuo ſunt ſenſu, poſtulo ſed te
Munera montanis quærere tanta locis
106
D ISCOURSE XXXVI.
All perſons that have once heard of the name or power of the Stone, unleſs they
are altogether incredulous, aſk preſently where it may be found, that ſo they may
run directly to it. The Philoſphers anſwer is twofold: Firſt Adam brought it with
him out of Paradiſe, that is, in you and in me, and in every man that, birds flying,
bring it with them out of far countries. Secondly, it may be found in the Earth,
Mountain, Air and Rivers. Which path therefore muſt be taken? I ſay, both, but in
a different reſpect, although the laſt pleaſes us beſt, and ſeems moſt ſafe.
It is ſaid to be thrown upon the Earth, becauſe the Element of Earth does firſt
appear in an obſcure and black body. Then, becauſe it is vile and of ſmall price, is
trod upon in the path of the Traveller, and in the very dung itſelf. Hence Roſarius
ſays, “Although I ſhould name it by its Name, the fools would not believe it to be
the Thing.” And Morienus, in his anſwer to Calis,
“Whither is much of it to be found?” “If this: It is not there unleſs, as the wiſe man
ſays, it be both to the Poor and Rich, to the Liberal and the Covetous, to him that
goeth as well as ſitteth. For this is thrown in the way and is trampled on in it's
dunghills, that they might extract it to themſelves, but they have been deceived.”
Mundus likewiſe in the Turba ſays, “If they who ſell it but did know it, they would
not ſell it ſo cheaply.” And Arnoldus affirms that the Stone may be had gratis, in
as great plenty as any man can deſire, neither will he be forced to aſk for it. All
which things are true; for who but a Churl will deny Earth and Water to him that
aſks for it? The ancient Cimbri, as hiſtory tells us, when they were denied the
benefit of theſe two things by the Romans, entered Italy with large Armies, and
ſlew ſeveral thouſands of the Romans, together with the Conſuls. For the Earth as
the Mother of all things, is moſt precious as it is. The laſt Matter of things
putrefied, is moſt vile; for nothing can be viler than mud or dirt, which yet is
nothing elſe but Earth mixed with Water. What is more common than a Clod of
Earth?
But Euripylus, the ſon of Neptune, offered it to the Argonautical Heroes as a
Preſent, and they not refuſing it, but accepting it gratefully, and Medea having
diſſolved it in water, divined many good things by it; for it is neceſſary that Earth
be diſſolved in water, otherwiſe neither one nor the other will be of any value.
After this manner, the Stone is ſaid to be caſt upon the Earth, in which
notwithſtanding, it does not remain as a thing abject, but is exalted into the
Mountains, ſuch as Athos, Veſuvius, Aetna and others, that ſend forth Flames,
many whereof are to be ſeen in diverſe parts of the World; for in theſe burns a
107
perpetual Fire, which ſublimes the Stone and exalts it to the higheſt dignity. As it
grows in mountains in a rude form, from Sulphur and Argent Vive, ſo it is
perfected and brought to maturity upon the tops of mountains, where alſo grows
that Herb without which the Fire cannot be tempered, becauſe this, being cold and
moiſt, and ſo thrown into the Fire, repels the vehemence of it by its contrary
nature. From the mountains it paſſes into the Air, where it finds a habitation. For
the Air is its houſe that encloſes it, which is nothing elſe then that it is carried in
the belly of the wind, and is born in the Air, which ways of ſpeaking we have
explained before.
At laſt he is fed in Rivers, that is: Mercury is fed in waters; and then, as the
Athenians celebrated certain Feaſts in his honour, which they called Hydrophoria.
For the matter of the Philoſophical Stone is water, as the Roſary ſaith, and is
underſtood by the waters of thoſe three; for which reaſon Mercury is ſaid to have
three heads, as being Marine, Celeſtial, and Terreſtrial , becauſe he is preſent in the
Water, Earth and Air.
He is ſaid to be educated by Vulcan, and given to thievery becauſe Mercury is
taught to be accuſtomed to Fire, which is volatile and carry away whatever is
mixed with it. He gave Laws and Diſcipline to the Egyptians, and anciently
inſtituted the religion of the Theban prieſts, and the great part of the world
beſides. For the Egyptians had this policy and ſacred rites from Chemical
Inſtitutions, from them the Grecians received them, and laſtly the Romans, as we
have in other places abundantly demonſtrated.
He ſlew Argus with a piece of a rock or Stone, and turned Battus into a Touchſtone
. What need of many words? All the volumes of the Chemiſts are nothing elſe but
repetitions concerning Mercury, and they ſufficiently confirm his power by this
one verſe: IN MERCURIO EST QUICQUID QUAERUNT SAPIENTES: What wiſemen ſeek in
Mercury is found.
Here therefore he muſt be ſought, for ill he may be found, whether he remain in
the Air, the Fire, the Water, or the Earth. For he is wandering, now running hither,
now thither, to perform the Services of the Chemick Gods:
He is their Footman, which is declared to be his proper Office, hence ſome men
aſcribe to him a Daughter called Anglia.
108
EMBLEMA XXXVII.
Tria ſufficiunt ad magiſterium, fumus albus, hoc eſt, aqua, leo viridis,
id eſt, æs Hermetis, & aqua fœtida.
[Three things are ſufficient for the Magiſtery: The White Fume that is Water;
The Green Lion that is the Braſs of Hermes; and Aqua Faetida.]
E PIGRAMMA XXXVIII.
Terna magiſterii ſunt ſemina, fœtida Lympha,
Et niueus uapor, ac pelle LEO uiridi:
Vnda parens peperit, reſtant quæ elementa, Sophisque,
Vt lapidem faciant, ultima primaque ea eſt.
Æs Hermetis at eſt uiridis LEO, petraque nota
Librorum capitlis, Fumus & albus aqua.
109
D ISCOURSE XXXVIII.
As there are three things eſſentially neceſſary to the building of a Fabric, ſo that
either of them be abſent, there can be no perfection in it, and theſe are the
Foundation, the Walls, and the Roof, ſo the ſame number is requiſite for the
compounding of the Philoſophic compound, which are here named by their
proper names. The author of Aurora, ſpeaking of the ſeparation of the Elements in
his 20th Chapter ſays, “The Earth is left there that the other three Elements may be
rooted in it. For if that were not there, they would have no foundation whereupon
they might build a new repoſitory for their Treaſures.”
This Foundation is here called Aqua Faetida, which is the mother of all Elements,
as Roſarius declares, from which, by which, and with which the Philoſophers
prepare It, that is their Elixir, both in the beginning and in the End.
Their water is called Faetida, becauſe it ſends forth a Sulphurous Stink, like that of
Sepulchres. This is the water which Pegaſus ſtruck out of Parnaſſus with his hoof (
which Nonacris, a mountain of Arcadia, produces guſhing out of a Rock at the
Top of it ) and can be perceived as nothing but by the hoof of a Horſe, by reaſon of
its moſt exceſſive Strength.
This is the water of the Dragon ( as Roſarius calls it ) which ought to be made by
an Alembic, without adding any other thing, in the making wherof there is an
extraordinary ſtink. Some perſons, miſunderſtanding theſe words, have betook
themſelves to the diſtillation of the Dung of Man, or other animals, in which
operation they perceived a very vehement Stink, but found nothing elſe but dung
in their dung.
But do not ſuppoſe the Philoſophers to be Beetles that work in Dunghills, for you
muſt know that the ſtink, if it be any, is preſently changed into a great Fragrancy,
as Lully aſſerts of his Quinteſſence, to which, if it be rightly made, he aſcribes ſo
ſweet a ſavour that, being placed on the top of a houſe, it allures to it Birds that are
upon the wing, and cauſes them to ſtay there.
But he places his Quinteſſence in Dung, by whoſe temperate Heat the Fragrancy
follows. Some men have tried this with wine, but in Vain, and therefore have
accuſed Lully of vanity, whereas they were rather to be reproved for their Folly,
that never talked of this wine of Lully. But the Aureus Poeta underſtood Lully
much better when, in the eleventh book of his Chryſopae, he ſings thus, “Give
after the Aqua Faetida comes, the Green Lion.” Concerning which, Roſarius ſays,
“You have ſought after Greenneſs ſuppoſing that Braſs was a Leprous body,
becauſe of that greenneſs which it hath, and therefore I declare to you, that
110
whatſoever is perfect in Braſs, is that greenneſs alone which is in it, becauſe that
Greenneſs is, by our Magiſtery, ſuddenly turned into our moſt true Gold, and this
we have experienced.”
But you can no way prepare the Stone without Duenech, green and liquid, which
is ſeen to ſpring in our mines. O Bleſſed Green that doſt generate all Things! For as
you know that no Vegetable or Fruit appears in its Bud without a green Colour, ſo
in like manner the generation of this thing is Green, wherefore the Philoſophers
call it the Bud, and ſo far Roſarius, “This the Philoſopher's Gold and Braſs and
Stone.” noted in Chapters, “A Fume Vapour and Water”; the Spittle of Luna,
which, joined to the Light of Sol, this Green Lion fights with the Dragon, but is
overcome, and in proceſs of time devoured by him; and the Lion being putrefied,
Sweetneſs is expected to proceed out of his mouth ( as if had been ſlain by Samſon
), the Dragon getting the upper hand, to fill himſelf with the Lion's fleſh, and a
while afterwards to burſt of himſelf and Die. From which, ſeeing the Lion's Fat can
daily, by itſelf, cure Fevers, and make Grace and Favour mutually ſpring up
between King and People that are anointed therewith, there may be made of it a
moſt excellent Medicine, which will be moſt healing in many Maladies.
In the third place follows the White Fume, which if it be coagulated, becomes
Water, and performs the Office of Water, in waſhing, diſſolving, and taking away
ſpots, like Soap. This, the Fire Againſt Nature, which take care that you find out, is
ſo called becauſe it is contrary to Nature, undoing and deſtroying that which She,
with her diligent Care, hath compounded.
This is a Fire not kindled from a ſpirit of wine, or oil, but from an incombuſtible
matter of Equal duration and Heat, and is a Fire without Light and combuſtion, of
great Virtue and Efficacy, which ſeeing it does not ſhine, cannot without difficulty
be found in the Dark, but it is ſtill more hard to apply it rightly to the work, whoſe
circumſtances and properties we have ſufficiently deſcribed in divers places.
111
EMBLEMA XXXVIII.
Rebis, ut Hermaphroditus, naſcitur ex duobus montibus, Mercurii & Veneris.
[Rebis is a Hermaphrodite produced from the two mountains of Mercury and Venus.]
E PIGRAMMA XXXVIII.
Rem geminam REBIS ueteres dixêre, quod uno
Corpore ſit mas hæc fœminaque, Androgyna.
Natus enim binis in montibus HERMAPHRODITUS
Dicitur, Hermeti quem tulit alma Venus.
Ancipitem ſexum ne ſpernas, nam tibi Regem
Mas idem, mulierque una eademque dabit.
112
D ISCOURSE XXXVIII.
Socrates being aſked what Countryman he was, anſwered that he was
Coſmopolite, or a Citizen of the World, by which his intention was to ſignify that,
though he was born at Athens as to perſon, yet in his mind he could freely run
through the whole world, all things contained in it, and look upon that as his
Country. For the wiſe man that lives well is at home everywhere.
So if any man aſk the Philoſophers what Countryman their Hermaphrodite is, they
anſwer that he belongs to the World, or is in all the Corners of the World where
the Elements can be found as being the Sons of the Wiſe, and conſequently has a
Country common with them.
But in as one man is not born twice or oftener, nor enters into this light in diverſe
places, but in one only, as Socrates the Athenian is acknowledged to have done, ſo
Rebis is thought to be the Inhabitant of Two mountains, to wit, of Mercury and
Venus, from whence the Name of Hermaphrodite is derived to him, from both his
Parents.
His houſe is Mountainous, and his Country is high, and therefore he exiſts by
things got in a High place. A Noble and large Country are no ſmall helps towards
the performance of great Actions, for theſe men are promoted to public offices and
need not lie in obſcurity, as it happens to Perſons born in mean places, where it is
difficult by their proper merit and Virtue, to ariſe from a ſmall fortune to be a
glory to their Country.
In this manner theſe mountains, unknown to many men, acquire fame from the
Hermaphrodite, by reaſon of his Illuſtrious actions and Name, famous throughout
all the world. For who, though never ſo little verſed in the Books of the
Philoſophers, hath not heard of the name of Rebis? Who hath not ſeen and
conſidered Angrogynus with two heads? His fame has been known even amongſt
the Indians, and is diſperſed farther than that of Alexander. Many go from far
Countries to ſee and diſcourſe with a learned man, or one particularly famous for
War, or any other Art or Science. But many more would travel to the Mountains of
Rebis if they could know where they may be found.
Morienus teſtifies in his book, with what Care and Study he departed from Rome,
to make diligent ſearch after Adfeſus Alexandrinus, and at laſt found him, and is
therefore to be accounted more happy and acceptable to God, in that he had a
Living Teacher, and not Dumb Maſters, whereby he might learn and behold this
thing which is the Native place of Rebis.
113
Nor muſt they uſe leſs diligence and aſſiduity who by themſelves, through Reaſon,
and out of books, would ſeek for this Country. For though there ſeem to be ſome
clearneſs in them ſometimes, yet are they ſo Veiled and clouded with intricacy and
Obſcurity, that it is very difficult to diſtinguiſh one thing from another. Wherefore
we muſt cautiouſly proceed with them, leſt they which are prepared for remedies,
may be uſed for poiſons.
They are an immenſe Ocean, in which expert mariners, ſailing by Aſtronomical
Inſtruments, may know the Latitude or the Elevation of the Equator above the
Horizon, the Magnet ſhowing the North Pole. But as for the Longitude, or how
many degrees they are diſtant from the firſt meridian which is next to the
Fortunate Iſlands, they cannot diſcover. From whence they are uncertain in what
place they are between Eaſt and Weſt. What is therefore to be done?
That which the ſame Mariners uſed to do: conſult Experience with Reaſon, and
thereby learn how to determine a long Voyage by particular Signs, Promontorious
Iſlands, and other things that they may not, for want of conſideration, fall upon
Sands and Rocks.
But here is leſs danger if the thing do not proſper, but if it does, theſe are hopes of
greater gain, than thoſe whoſe goods and life are all loſt in an hour.
Now this mountain of the Philoſophical Mercury is not Nonacris, nor Atlas, where
ſometimes it is reported to be brought forth, but Parnaſſus with two Tops, in one
of which Hermes, and in the other Venus. Here alſo is Apollo and the Muſes, and
Hippocrene the Fountain of Pegaſus, and Laurels that are always green. It is one
mountain in Name, but in reality it is two, as Hermaphroditus is beheld with two
heads and two members in one Body. But what Man of a Thouſand perſiſts in the
aſcending to the Top of this Mountain? Who does not ſtop at the bottom being
hindered by variety of Obſtacles? Who is there almoſt that attains to the Middle of
it?
Wherefore it is no ſtrange thing if one in Ten thouſand undertake theſe Herculean
Labours, ſo as to ſet their Foot on the Top of the Mountain, and enjoy the immortal
reward of a Laurel garland.
Which all thoſe that are upright, ducible, and addicted to Learning and Virtue,
may receive with Joy; but that thoſe that are [not] may be deprived thereof, is alſo
much to be hoped for and deſired.
114
EMBLEMA XXXIX.
Œdypus Sphynge ſuperata & trucidato Laio patre matrem ducit in uxorem.
[Œdipus having overcome Sphinx and killed his father Laius, married his mother.]
E PIGRAMMA XXXIX.
Sphyngem ænigmatico Thebis ſermone timendam
Œdypus ad propriam torſerat arte necem:
Quæſitum eſt, cui manè pedes ſint bis duo, luce
Sed mediâ bini, tres, ubi ueſper adeſt.
Victor abhinc Laium nolentem cedere cædet,
Ducit & uxorem quæ ſibi mater erat.
115
D ISCOURSE XXXIX.
Bacaſſer the Philoſopher in the Turba, “That which you ſeek for,” ſays he, “is of no
ſmall value, for you ſeek the greateſt Treaſure and moſt excellent gift of God. And
learn ye, Students, that which the Philoſophers have longtimes intimated, ſaying
that Truth is not diſcerned but by Error, and that nothing begets more grief to the
Heart than Error in this work, for when a man thinks he has done and hath the
World, he ſhall find nothing in his hands.”
The Ancient Philoſophers would intimate the ſame things, under the Emblem of
Sphinx, and her propoſitions whereby the might ſet forth the Obſcurity amd
intricacy of this Art. Hence the Egyptians, in their Sacra Iſiaca, which were
celebrated in Honour of Oſiris, by mitred Prieſts with their heads and all parts of
their body ſhaved, and clothes with a white and linen garment down to their
heels, that theſe ſolemnities night not be known or diſcovered to the common
people, they erected a Statue of Silence, which was called Sigalion, in the front of
the Altar, the aſſiſtants being enjoined to keep ſilence and turn their eyes to that
Image. And for the ſame reaſon they added the Effigies of Sphinx at the Corner,
which did repreſent the phyſical knowledge of ſacred things, as Boiſſardus does
from Ancient writers demonſtrate.
For Sphinx is a kind of monſter, propoſing the moſt obſcure Riddles to the
Thebans, and not only to them, but as ſhe had done before to the Egyptians.
So afterwards to others that aſpire to Art, ſhe lies watching in the Philoſophical
books, as ſhe did before the gates of Thebes: If anyone paſs by the monſter, he
ſuffers no harm by it, but if through the preſumption of his Wit and Courage he
endeavour to reſolve its riddles, and cannot perform it, he acquires his own
deſtruction which is grief to his heart, and damage to his affairs by his error in this
work.
He that refers the Allegories to true Hiſtory is utterly miſtaken, for they will ſeem
to be childiſh and Fooliſh tales if they be taken literally, but otherwiſe they are
ſigns and Tokens of profound learning. ( There are ſaid to be in Africa certain wild
beaſts that have the name of Sphinx, but our diſcourſe is not concerning them,
though the enigmatical denomination of this fiction ſeems to be derived from
them. )
The Sphinx of the Philoſophers both uſed and underſtood human ſpeech, namely
the Greek, and otherwiſe propoſed ſubtle ſentences and enigmatical queſtions, in
which appears a ſingular ſharpneſs of underſtanding and learning, and ſuch as are
uncommon to men, from which conſequently, Brutes muſt be very far diſtant.
All that are converſant in the aſſertions of the Philoſophers, will eaſily diſcover
them to be of this nature. For where one thing is ſpoken and another thing is
meant, there Equivocation will beget Error, and this not only familiar to the
116
Philoſophers, but likewiſe the City of Thebes, having been long perplexed with the
Riddles of Sphinx, at laſt one Oedipus appeared, who gave ſuch anſwers that
Sphinx could not reſtrain from throwing herſelf down from a Rock.
But who is this Oedipus? The ſon of the King of Thebes, who was foretold by an
Oracle that he ſhould be ſlain by his ſon, and therefore when Oedipus was born he
commanded him to be killed, who having a Cord run through his feet and hung
upon a tree and there left, was freed from thence and educated by a Countryman.
He therefore growing to man's eſtate, had ſwollen feet, but ſufficiently declared
the quickneſs of his wit before other men by reſolving this riddle which Sphinx
had propoſed. Sphinx is indeed reported to have had many Riddles, but this
offered to Oedipus was the chief,
“What is that which in the morning goeth upon four feet; upon two feet in the
afternoon; and in the Evening upon three?”
What was anſwered by Oedipus is not known. But they who interpret concerning
the Ages of Man are deceived. For a Quadrangle of Four Elements are of all
things firſt to be conſidered, from thence we come to the Hemiſphere having two
lines, a Right and a Curve, that is, to the White Luna; from thence to the Triangle
which conſiſts of Body, Soul and Spirit, or Sol, Luna and Mercury. Hence Rhaſis
in his Epiſtles, “The Stone,” ſays he, “is a Triangle in its eſſence, a Quadrangle in
its quality.” ( And our 21ſt Emblem and its Expoſition relate to the ſame matter.)
But Oedipus moreover, notorious for Parricide and Inceſt, which are two of the
moſt deteſtable Vices that can ever be thought of, nevertheleſs they promoted him
to a Kingdom otherwiſe due to him, he having unawares killed his Father refuſing
to give way to him, and married the Queen, the wife of Laius, his own Mother.
But this is not written for Hiſtory or Example, it being only feigned and
Allegorically introduced by the Philoſophers, to diſcover the ſecrets of their
doctrine. For in this work both theſe things happen: For the firſt Efficient the
Father is killed, and thrown out by his effect that is his ſon, and afterwards the
ſame Effect couples ſecond Efficient to himſelf, ſo long till it becomes one with
him. Thus the Son is joined to his Mother by Matrimony, and enjoys his Father's
Kingdom, as it were by a Triple Right of Arms, Wedlock and Succeſſion.
He has ſwollen becauſe he cannot run, and is like a Bear as having the Greateſt
Secret, or a Toad going with a Slow Pace becauſe it is Fixed, fixing Another, and
not flying or dreading the Fire, which though it be a medium of a Mean repute,
yet the Philoſophers can by no means be without it.
117
EMBLEMA XL.
Ex duabus aquis, fac unam, & erit aqua ſanctitatis.
[Out of two Waters make One, and that will be the Water of Sanctity]
E PIGRAMMA XL.
Sunt bini liquido ſalientes gurgite fontes,
Hinc Pueri calidam ſuggerit unus aquam:
Alter habet gelidam, quæ Virginis Vnda uocatur,
Hanc illi iungas, ſint aquæ ut una duæ:
Riuus & hic mixtas uires utriusque tenebit,
Ceu Iovis Hammonii fons calet atque riget.
118
D ISCOURSE XL.
The miracles of water are ſo great and ſo many that they can ſcarce be
comprehended in a large volume, concerning which ſeveral Authors have treated
up and down in their writings. But above all there are Two Philoſophical waters,
which are celebrated with that name, becauſe they do not only Rival, but alſo
exceed the Virtues and properties of all the reſt.
The Rivers Sybaris, Axus of Macedonia, and Melas of Boetia make cattle Black if
they drink of them. But the Rivers Crathis Clitumnus of Mevaenia, and Cephiſſus,
make black cattle White. The waters of Sinueſſa in Campania take away barrenneſs
from both Sexes. The River Aphrodiſius makes women barren. Cabiera, a
Fountain of Meſopotamia, hath a Sweet ſmell. The water of Anyger, in the
Peloponneſus, Stinks very much. The Fountain of Jupiter Ammon is cold in the
Day time, hot in the Night, in the evening and morning lukewarm by Turns; not
to mention many more.
All things although they be contrary one to the other, are performed by the waters
of the Philoſophers. Lully ſpeaks of them in his book, “De Quinta Eſſentia diſtin: 3
de Inarratione.” And ſo there is, ſaith he, a double conſideration in Art, that is,
from one Nature of one metal, to make two contrary liquors in compoſition: One
that has a fixing, congealing and hardening quality, the other that is Volatile,
unfixed and ſoft. But the ſecond liquor is hardened, fixed and congealed by the
firſt. From both which liquors there reſults one Stone, congealed, fixed and
hardened, which hath the Virtue of congealing that which is not congealed, of
hardening what is mollified, of mollifying what is hard. From whence it appears
what theſe two waters are, and why they are to be reduced to One water. For the
Stone is ſaid to be Water becauſe it is fuſible, and on the contrary the water is
called a Stone becauſe it is frangible. But theſe waters are drawn out of different
places, ſometimes by a long tract, as may be ſeen in Rome, by the Aqua Virginis,
and other Artificial Fountains, and then they are to be mixed by the confluence of
their water, that from two may be made one. For if one be of a hot, and the other
be of a cold Virtue, when theſe are mixed together they will acquire mixed
Virtues, and will temper themſelves after a wonderful manner. From hence will
ariſe the moſt excellent Baths and medicinal Water, which will diſpell all ſorts of
Maladies and diſeaſes, and reſtore ſound health to mankind.
Nature does indeed by her hidden Artifice of Compoſition, confound and mingle
many waters with the Virtues of diverſe minerals in the bowels of the Earth,
which are beneficial to many ſick and infirm perſons. But if Art be added to with
due Rules, ſo that not only the Evacuations of Nature that have been before, but
119
thoſe of Art which are to come before, are totally effected ſo that thoſe things
which ſhould be mixed are mixed among themſelves, the compoſition will become
far more efficacious. Which although it may ſeem Artificial, yet is merely Natural
becauſe one ſimple Homogenous thing is made out of divers, which can never be
effected by Art.
Art may cauſe a mixed uſe and confuſion, but without the help of Nature there can
be no true and natural Union, for that is made by Nature only. In Treacle there is
an Artificial mixture of Various ſimples, which is made by contrition and
fermentation, but no man will affirm it to be a Natural compoſition, much leſs to
be an Homogenous Medicine.
As to the Artificial mixture of Subſtances, it is manifeſt that the leaſt particles do
not enter one into the other, which cannot be divided and ſeparated again by the
Induſtry of any man whatſoever.
But as to the mixture of all Qualities, we muſt enquire whether the firſt Treacles of
all ſimples may paſs into one Quinteſſence, or whether they remain ſtill in their
firſt ſubſtances or powders, as they did before as Accidents in their Subjects, or
Colours upon a wall. And then what muſt be ſaid of the ſecond, third, and fourth
Qualities?
It is probable that all Qualities do ſtill adhere to their proper Subjects, and that
they are not compounded among themſelves with a true and natural mixture;
otherwiſe if the qualities ſhould leave their bodies, there would be four
Quinteſſences in every Artificial compound, according to the number of the Order
of the Qualities firſt, ſecond and etc., that muſt be without their bodies, and
ſeparable, which thing is not ſo.
They write of the Coagulation of the Hare's Blood, that in a flux occaſioned by
thinneſs of blood it do ſtop, and as it were, coagulate, but in coagulation and
commixtion it cuts and diſſolves the ſame, ſo there are contrary operations of
Vinegar, and Lead, and many other things, according as their Uſe is diverſe,
becauſe Nature has mixed them ſo wonderfully. And thus the Philoſophical water
has diverſe and contrary Virtues, becauſe Nature by the help of Art, has out of
contraries mixed it into one indiviſible Subſtance, which is nothing elſe but a
Quinteſſence, in reſpect of other things that are to be mingled with it.
120
EMBLEMA XLI.
Adonis ab apro occiditur, cui Venus accurrens tinxit Roſas ſanguine.
(Adonis is killed by a Boar, to whom Venus haſting, tinges the Roſes with her Blood.)
E PIGRAMMA XLI.
Ex patre, Myrrha ſuo pulchrum ſuſcepit Adonim:
Delitias Cypriæ, quem nece ſtrauit aper.
Accurrit Venus & pede læſa cruore ruborem
Contulit ipſa roſæ, quæ prius alba fuit
Flet Dea (flent Syri, luctus communis in orbe eſt
Illum lactucis mollibus & poſuit.
121
D ISCOURSE XLI.
Some of the Mythologiſts, when they would explain the Allegory of Adonis, ſay
that He is the Sun, and that the Boar by whom he is ſlain is the Winter ſeaſon,
Hairy with Froſt. Others ſay that He is the ſeed of the Corn, which is ſix months
under the Earth with Proſerpine, and ſix months above the ground with Venus.
But how improperly this is done has been ſufficiently ſhown by us in other places.
For we affirm, and that by univerſal conſent, that by Adonis is to be underſtood
the Sol of the Philoſophers, according to this verſe:
OMNIA SUNT IDEM DIONYSUS SOL DYONYSE ADONIS
Dionyſus, Sol and Adonis are the ſame.
And Orpheus:
QUI VARIE CATARIS NOMINE ADONI
Adonis Honoured by a Various name,
GERMINUM ET IDEM AUTHOR PARITER PUER A— PUELLA
Author of Buds thou art both Maid and Boy.
Now all theſe things cannot be underſtood of the Celeſtial Sun, but may be
underſtood of the Philoſophical one: For this expreſſes both Sexes, whereas that
does not, and ſo theſe Mythologiſts attribute the ſame thing to Dionyſus and Sol, as
they do to Adonis; and on the contrary and ſo likewiſe, to Oſiris.
But Adonis is ſlain by the Boar, ( that is, by the ſharpneſs of Vinegar, or diſſolving
water, which hath terrible teeth like a Boar ) and has his members looſened and
cut off. But Venus endeavours to help her Lover; and when He was dead, laid out
and preſerved him among Lettuces. In the ſame manner Oſiris is ſlain by Typhon
and cut into ſeveral pieces, which Iſis the wife of Oſiris gathered up, and having
joined them together, buried them. The ſame Mourning which Yearly followed the
Death of Oſiris in Egypt, was alſo celebrated after the Death of Adonis, in Syria
and neighbouring Kingdoms when, after Weeping and Lamenting for ſeveral days
together, there were great expreſſions of Joy, with Dancing and other Ceremonies,
as if he had been Conveyed into Heaven. From hence aroſe the Vanity of the
Heathen Religion, or Superſtition, which was vaſtly increaſed by the Devils who
thence took occaſion to promote it and to procure falſe Miracles.
Adonis was born of Cinyras ( according to the Fable of the King of Cyprus and his
Daughter Myrrhas. ) He is ſaid to be ſprung from a deteſtable Inceſt, if we look
upon the Hiſtory; but if we regard the Allegories, it was ſo far from being
122
unlawful that in fact it was abſolutely Neceſſary. For in this Art nothing can be
perfected unleſs it be born from a conjunction between the Mother and the Son,
and the Father and his Daughter. For here, by how much nearer in blood, whether
in the Firſt or Second degree of Conſanguinity, the married couple may be ſo
much more fruitful they will prove; and on the Contrary, the farther remote, ſo
much the more barren, which if taken literally is not to be ſuffered.
Hence Oedipus married his mother; Jupiter his ſiſter; and ſo did Oſiris, Saturn, Sol,
Servus Rubeus or the Red Servant, and Gabritius.
Sol ſpeaks thus of Adonis, that is concerning himſelf, in the Metaphor of Belinus,
in the Roſary: “Know ye” ſays he, “that my Father Sol hath given me Power above
all Powers, and Clothed me with new garments of Glory, for I am his Only Son,
and more like my Father, and I diveſt my ſervants from their power and Nature,
and clothe them with my Beautiful ſplendour and Light which my Father gave
me. For I am excellent and do Exalt and Depreſs all, and none of my ſervants is
above me, but One, who is permitted to be repugnant and Contrary to me, and to
Deſtroy me, yet he does not deſtroy my Nature: He is Saturn, who ſeparates all my
parts; afterwards I go to my Mother who gathers together all my divided and
ſeparated members. I Illuminate all thoſe things that appertain to One, and cauſe
Light to appear openly in the way from my Father Saturn, and alſo from my
mother who is an Enemy to me.”
Theſe words are ſo clear that they may diſpel any Darkneſs that is before the mind
of a perſon, never ſo little verſed in Reading, who may behold the agreement that
there is between Things and Perſons. For truths, although hid under the Veils of
Allegories have a wonderful conſent among themſelves, whereas thoſe things
which are falſe are repugnant and inconſiſtent, both in themſelves and in others.
123
EMBLEMA XLII.
In Chymicis uerſanti Natura, Ratio, Experientia & lectio,
ſint Dux, ſcipio, perſpicilia & lampas.
(Nature, Reaſon, Experience and Reading muſt be the Guide, Staff, Spectacles and Lamp
to him that is employed in Chemical Affairs.)
E PIGRAMMA XLII.
Dux Natura tibi, tuque arte pediſſequus illi
Eſto lubens, erras, ni comes ipſa uiæ eſt.
Det ratio ſcipionis opem, Experientia firmet
Lumina, quo poſſit cernere poſta procul.
Lectio ſit lampas tenebris dilucida, rerum
Verborumque ſtrues prouidus ut caueas.
124
D ISCOURSE XLII.
There are innumerable accidents which may happen to Travellers, eſpecially if
they are to walk in the night time through dangerous and ſlippery places. But
beſides Proviſions and Strength of Body, there are four things that are extremely
neceſſary: In the firſt place a Skilful Guide or Companion, for if the ignorant lead
the ignorant it may happen either as to the Blind that they may both fall into the
Ditch, or at leaſt they both may run into difficulties and Errors. In the next place, a
Staff, by which a Remedy may be provided againſt the ſlipperineſs of the way.
Thirdly, good eyes, for elſe the way is almoſt as dangerous to thoſe that are dimſighted as to the blind. Fourthly, a Lamp or lighted Torch, by which ſeveral
obſtacles may be avoided, ſo that if any Perſon applies himſelf to the ſearch of the
Philoſophical Medicine, beſides ſtrength of Body, and Money ſufficient for his
expenſes, there are four other things requiſite, to wit: Nature, Reaſon, Experience
and Reading; for if any of theſe are wanting the others will be of little prevalence.
For theſe are the four Wheels of the Philoſophical Chariot, for which one of them
cannot be wanting, and if it be left out it avails nothing.
Nature preſuppoſes Natural Bodies; and Spirits as the Subjects; firſt miniſtered by
Nature, upon which Art may afterwards exert itſelf by Preparing, Purifying, and
rendering them Capable of having that produced from them, which Art propoſes
for its end. So the Potter takes Earth and Water; the Glaſſmaker aſhes and Sand; a
Smith Iron, Braſs, Lead, Tin, Copper, Silver and Gold; a Tanner raw Hides; and ſo
other Artiſts take other things.
The Chemiſt has regard to his Materials; theirs are known to them the very firſt
day, but when he Begins, his are utterly unknown to him for many years, and
perhaps for his whole life. Nature does indeed lay its finger upon the matters; but
there are many things which obſcure the impreſſion of Nature, that it cannot be
known.
Therefore the firſt intention muſt be to intimately contemplate Nature and to ſee
how ſhe proceeds in her operations, to this end that the natural Subjects of
Chemiſtry, without defect or ſuperfluity may be attained to. From whence let
Nature be thy Guide and Companion of ſo great a journey, and follow her
Footſteps. In the next place, let Reaſon be like a Staff which may keep the feet
ſteady and Firm, that they may not ſlip nor Waver; for without reaſoning, any
perſon will be apt to fall into Error. Whence the Philoſophers ſay, “Whatever you
hear, reaſon upon it, whether it can be ſo or no.”
125
For no man is forced to believe or Act Impoſſibilities, unleſs he be of a Weak
memory, Dull genius, and fooliſh Imagination to impoſe upon himſelf by taking
falſe thing for True, and rejecting true things as Falſe. They ſay likewiſe that they
take no care of the Words that are ſaid, but rather of the Things as they may be
Underſtood; and that words are for Things, and not things for Words. As for
example, if any man ſhould aſk if Glaſs may be made malleable by the
Philoſophical Tincture? Well, why ſhould I not believe it, provided reaſon vitiates
it?
Thirdly, Experience will be as ſpectacles by which things may be ſeen at a diſtance.
Theſe are Optic inſtruments invented and made by Art, to help and amend the
weakneſs of men’s eyes. Not unlike theſe are all Experiments of every kind, that
have been tried about the Mineral matter, whether ſeen or truly related, and the
more theſe remain in the Memory the more will be drawn from thence by a man of
Reaſon, who will compare them with themſelves, and other things, that he may ſee
what is truth, and what is not.
Fourthly, Reading does as it were, kindle a clear Lamp in the Underſtanding,
without which there will everywhere be darkneſs and Thick Clouds. But the
reading of Good Authors ought to be often repeated, otherwiſe it will not be
profitable.
Kenar Bacaſſar in the Turba ſaith, “He therefore that is of an even Temper and
exerciſes Patience without regret, will go in the right path of this Art. But he that
thinks himſelf able ſooner to reap benefit from our Books, is deceived, and it had
been better for him not to have looked into or touched them.
126
EMBLEMA XLIII.
Audi loquacem vulturem, qui neutiquam te decipit.
(Give ear to the Vulture’s words, which are in no wiſe falſe.)
E PIGRAMMA XLIII.
Montis in excelſo conſiſtit uertice uultur,
Aſſisduè clamans; Albus ego atque niger,
Citrinus, rubeuſque feror nil mentior: idem eſt
Coruus, qui pennis abſque uolare ſolet
Nocte tenebrosâ, mediâque in luce diei,
Namque artis caput eſt ille uel iſte tuæ.
127
D ISCOURSE XLIII.
We daily in many places hear Birds ſuch as Parrots, Ravens, Daws and Pyes that
prattle and imitate a Human Voice. Pliny writes that at the ſame time that he
publiſhed his Hiſtory, Agrippina the wife of Claudius Caeſar had a Thruſh that
could ſpeak, and that the young Caeſars had a Starling and Nightingales that were
accuſtomed to the Greek and Latin tongues, and daily ſpoke new things in a long
thread of words or ſentences. But in as at this time ſuch Birds are more frequently
to be met with, they are now leſs wondered at, for uſe and Cuſtom will make any
Birds capable of ſpeaking, if their Tongues are more broad than ordinary.
But that Vulture which the Philoſophers mention, has not learnt his words if he
utters any by uſe: His own Nature expreſſes them tacitly. But the Philoſophers ſay
that he continually cries out with a loud voice, who and What he is, in which he
imitates great Princes, who in the beginning of their public pronouncements will
always make known what are their inheritances and Titles; not out of Pride, but
that others, ( as well as themſelves ) may know what Principalities they govern (
or what rights of Inheritance they pretend to. ) So it is very neceſſary to know
what colours as Enſigns of Arms and Titles the Philoſophic Bird enjoys, and
wherein he excels all others.
“I” ſaith he ( as the Roſary hath it from Hermes ), “am the Black of white and the
Citrine of Red.” And ſuch he really is: For though he doth not as yet actually
poſſeſs theſe laſt Colours, yet he expects the Inheritance of them. Hereupon ſaith
Roſinus in his book Divinarum Interpretationum, “Take” ſaith he, “the Stone
which is Black, white, Red Citrine: That admirable Bird which flies without wings
in the Darkneſs of the night, and in the Clearneſs of the day.” For Colouration is
taken from bitterneſs exiſting in his Throat; but more water is taken from his
Blood, as Alexander ſaith, “Take O my Son the Stone of four Colours.” The books
of the Philoſophers do abundantly declare that the Stone has all theſe colours,
which are Principations in a ſucceſſive order.
But it may not be improper to declare why the Philoſophical Subject is called a
Vulture: Thoſe vultures which are Black, have moſt Force and are rapacious, but
they fly ſlowly becauſe of the bulk of their bodies. They ſay this bird conceives
without the help of the Male, and generates without coition, and their offſpring
arrive to a great age; even an hundred years. They build in high Rocks, and no
man has touched their neſts. Seldom more than two of their Young ones are ſeen.
They are an aſſiſtance againſt Serpents. They conceive by the Eaſt Wind. When
they begin to lay Eggs, they bring a thing out of the Indies, which as a Nut has
ſomething within it that may be moved, and forthwith yields a Sound, which
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when they have applied it to themſelves they produce many young ones, but one
only remains, which is called IMMUSULUS. We have the teſtimony of
Hermodorus Ponticus in Calius, that Vultures are the moſt innocent of all Animals
becauſe they touch nothing that Mankind ſows, plants or feeds; beſides, they kill
no living creature. They abſtain from birds, though dead, by a certain inſtinct of
Affinity. For this reaſon they were accounted the Signs in Divination, as the
Foundation of the City of Rome may declare. The Philoſophical Bird, expreſſing
almoſt all theſe Qualities of the Vulture, is therefore not undeſervedly called a
Vulture by Hermes and others. He is ſlow in flight and of Colour Black. He
conceives from himſelf ( for ſo Roſarius towards the End . ) And he is the Dragon
who marries himſelf and impregnates himſelf and brings forth in his own Seaſon.
And Roſarius to Sarratanta, " And that is the Serpent, Luxuriant in itſelf,
impregnating itſelf, and bringing forth in one day. " It lives and endures a very
long time, and multiplies itſelf. For what Virgil writes concerning the Phoenix
agrees likewiſe to this, for it is the ſame Bird.
It is very difficult to climb the neſt of this Bird. It fights with the Mercurial
Serpent, and overcomes it, that is Sol. With Luna it is conceived by the wind and
carried in its belly, and born in the Air. The Stone Aetites, containing within it the
little ſtone ſounding, is by many men called Totium. One only IMMUSULUS is
found in the neſt of the Philoſophers. The Philoſophic Bird is alſo moſt Innocent
becauſe it hurts no body; it is beneficial to all that know it, and moſt excellent in
Divinations.
But does he make a Neſt on the mountains and ſitting there cry out? Roſinus
according to Rhaſis, gives this anſwer, “Contemplate the Higheſt mountains, both
thoſe on the Right hand and thoſe on the Left, and climb up thither. There our
Stone is found, and in another mountain which produces all ſorts of Printer's
colours, and Spirits or ſpecies, there it is likewiſe.” Likewiſe Morienus ſays,
“Aſcend the High mountains covered with Trees, becauſe there our Stone is found
and hidden.” And Hermes ſays, “Take you the Bleſſed Stone and break it to ſmall
pieces, and waſh the Red Stone from which is extracted that which is found in
Mountains, and Eſpecially in old Sinks or Shores. “
129
EMBLEMA XLIV.
Dolo Typhon Oſyridem trucidat, artuſque illius hinc inde diſſipat,
ſed hos collegit Iſis inclyta.
(Typhon kills Oſiris by deceit, and diſperſes his limbs. But the famous Iſis
gathered them together.)
E PIGRAMMA XLIV.
Syria Adonidem habet, Dionyſum Græcia, Oſirim
Ægyptus, qui ſunt nil niſi SOL Sophi
ISIS adeſt ſoror, & coniunx ac mater Oſiris,
Cuius membra Typhon diſſecat, illa ligat.
Defluit at pudibunda mari pars, ſparſa per undas,
Sulphur enim, SULPHUR quod generauit, abeſt.
130
D ISCOURSE XLIV.
In the firſt book of our Hieroglyphics we have fully explained and reduced the
Allegory of Oſiris to its true Original, which is Chemical. And though we ſhall not
repeat that, yet we ſhall make a diſcourſe parallel to it, whereby we may retain
Oſiris within the bounds of Ancient Chemiſtry, all which has been ſo often ſung of
and figured out by the Ancient Poets. For you can never poſſibly perſuade me that
Oſiris was a God, or a King of Egypt. For to me the contrary to both ſeems
apparent from ſeveral circumſtances. He is indeed the Sun, but it is the
Philoſophical one. Now that name being often attributed to him, the Vulgar who
read it, and knew of no other Sun but that which gives light to the World,
interpreted it in that ſenſe.
The Sun of the Philoſophers has its denomination from the ſun of the World,
becauſe it contains thoſe properties of Nature which deſcend from the celeſtial
Sun, or are agreeable to it. Therefore Sol is Oſiris, Dionyſus, Bacchus, Jupiter,
Mars, Adonis, Oedipus, Perſeus, Achilles, Triptolemus, Pelops, Hippomanes,
Pollux. And Luna is Iſis, Juno, Venus the Mother of Oedipus, Danae, Deidaneira,
Atalanta, Helena; as alſo Latona, Semele, Leda, Antiope, Thalia. Theſe are the parts
of that compound which before the Operation is called the Stone; and by the
Name of every metal, Magneſia.
After operation it is called Orcus, Pyrrhus, Apollo, Aeſculapius. The Adjuncts are
Typhon, Python, the Boar. The Artiſts are Hercules, Ulyſſes, Jaſon, Perithous. And
the labours and dangers which thoſe Artiſts underwent were innumerable. We
may ſee the Labours of Hercules, the Errors of Ulyſſes, the Dangers of Jaſon, the
Endeavours of Theſeus, the Remorſe of Perithous. This is the great volume of
Matter and Doctrine, through which in every page, Saturn, Mercury and Vulcan
do often occur: The firſt as Father of all, the Cauſe without which nothing can be
effected; the ſecond as the matter or form; the third as the Efficient. Sol takes Luna
his Siſter to be his wife, Jupiter takes Juno, as Saturn Rhea, and Oſiris does Iſis.
Dionyſus is ſnatched out of his mother Semele, who was burnt by the thunder of
Jupiter, that ſo he may come to maturity in the thigh of his Father Jupiter.
Aeſculapius from his Mother Coronis; Dionyſus being grown up ſhows men the
Uſe of Wine, making an Expedition as far as the Indies; Oſiris and Triptolemus
that of Corn, and how to ſow it; and Aeſculapius that of Medicine. The Greeks call
him Dionyſus, the Latins Bacchus, the Egyptians Oſiris, and the Syrians Adonis.
Oedipus killed his Father and married his Mother. Perſeus ſlew his Grandfather;
Typhon his brother Oſiris; and the Boar, Adonis; Ceres the Nurſe of Triptolemus,
his Father Eleuſiris. Hippomanes overcame Atalanta by a Golden Apple; Tantalus
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the father of Pelops, obtained Hippodamia by overcoming her in a race of
Chariots. Oſiris being cut in pieces, was joined together again by Iſis, his mother,
ſiſter and wife. The child Pelops was boiled and dreſſed, his ſhoulder eaten by
Ceres and again returned to life, an Ivory ſhoulder being added to him. Achilles
and Triptolemus were put under coals of fire by Night, and in the Day time
nouriſhed by milk; one by Ceres his nurſe, the other by his mother Thetis. Achilles
and Helena were the Cauſes of the Trojan War: She as the Impulſive, he as the
Efficient cauſe. Helena was hatched from an Egg, and at the Nuptials of Peleus
and Thetis from whom Achilles deſcended, that apple of Eris [Diſcord] which was
the the firſt cauſe of the Rape of Helena, was thrown about. Pollux was aſſiſting to
the Argonauts, who are ſuppoſed ( if ever they lived at all ) to have lived at leaſt
fifty Years before the Trojan War began, and both he and Helena were produced
out of one Egg, therefore Helena was an old woman when ſhe was raviſhed by
Paris. Medea when an old woman, and without a tooth in her Head, was married
to Achilles in the Elyſian Fields ( unleſs ſhe reſtored youth to herſelf, as ſhe did to
Aeſon the father of Jaſon, and as Ceres did to Pelops, for which reaſon he is ſaid to
have been twice Young. ) Perſeus received a flying Horſe from Pallas, and in
recompenſe brought the head of Meduſa to Her to whom Mercury gave a
Scymiter, and the reſt of the gods other Weapons. Ceres gave Triptolemus a
Chariot with flying Dragons. When Pallas was born of the Brain of Jupiter, and Sol
was in conjunction with Venus, it rained gold at Rhodes. And Jupiter in the form
of a golden Shower lay with Danae, as a Swan with Leda; as a Cuckoo with his
Siſter Juno; as a Bull with Europa; as a Satyr with Antiope.
And ſo there is a concord in them all.
132
EMBLEMA XLV.
Sol & eius umbra perficiunt opus.
(The Work is perfected by Sol and his Shade.)
E PIGRAMMA XLV.
Sol, fax clara poli, non corpora denſa penetrat,
Hinc illi adverſis partibus umbra manet:
Vilior hæc rebus quamuis est omnibus, usu
Attamen Astronomis commoda multa tulit:
Plura Sophis ſed dona dedit SOL, eius & umbra,
Auriferæ quoniam perficit artis opus.
133
D ISCOURSE XLV.
As a light kindled in a Round or Spherical Palace enlightens all the wall above or
below, except where ſome Table or utenſil in the middle obſtructs its influences, ſo
likewiſe the Sun being placed in the vaſt Arch of Heaven illuminates with its Rays
all the concavity of Heaven, and thoſe Bodies which are contained in it that are
Diaphanous and capable of receiving light; that is all the Stars, both the
Wandering and the fixed, except where the Thickneſs of the intermediate Earth
prohibits it. For there a black ſhade or Darkneſs, which is called Night, remains ſo
long till it is driven away by the Sun, and light is poured out and beheld in its
ſtead. Shade therefore, or Night, is the Privation or abſence of Solar Light, and Day
on the contrary is the irradiation and Circumfuſion of it. Shade is that which
cannot endure the aſpect of the Sun, and therefore abſconds itſelf, and avoids it,
ſometimes in this, ſometimes in another part of the Earth, according as the Sun is
in oppoſition to it. The Sun and Shade never yet ſaw one another, although if
Nature would admit it they might do it every moment. But the Sun conſidering
her as an Enemy to himſelf, always purſues her whilſt ſhe flys ſo that he can never
weary her ſo as to overtake her, as Buchannan ſays in his Book of the Sphere. After
the Image and example of that great Sun and his ſhade, the Philoſophers have
obſerved that their Sun likewiſe has a black cloudy flying ſhadow. Hence Hermes
ſaith, “My ſon, extract its ſhadow from the Ray.” That is, ſee that you bring your
Sun round about by the Primum Mobile over which Vulcan preſides, that that part
of the earth which is now covered with a ſhady night may enjoy the clear light of
the Sun. For if the whole Firmament of Heaven, with all that is contained in it,
were not carried round in each Natural day, that is in the ſpace of four and twenty
hours by its firſt motion, but the Sun ſhould move by its proper motion, which is
called the ſecond or annual one, thoſe Antipodes who are below us would have
night for almoſt the ſpace of ſix months, and we in the meantime ſhould have
daylight, and ſo on the contrary ſo that the whole Year would conſiſt of One day
and One night, as it is now under both the poles as Reaſon and experience ſhows
us. But it hath pleaſed Divine Providence to order it otherwiſe, which therefore
ordered Two motions of the Planets: The firſt and ſecond, and ſo diſtributed the
Year into many days.
Now the Shade and the Sun do together make a day and night, which the Sun by
itſelf alone could not do. It is its property to Illuminate all Bodies and places that
are oppoſite to it, but it is by accident only that its abſence makes a Shade. So alſo
the Philoſophical Sun with its ſhade make a day that is Light, and Darkneſs or
night. To wit, Latona or Magneſia, whoſe ſhade (as Democritus ſays in the
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beginning of the 3 books of his Menſa Aurea) muſt be ſemeted and burnt up by a
Fiery Medicine.
The uſe of Shadows in Aſtronomy is ſo great that without them that Science can
ſcarce be accompliſhed. It is to ſhade likewiſe that the Chemiſt aſcribes the
perfection of his Art. For what is this Sun without a Shadow? The ſame as a
Clapper without a Bell, that indeed makes the firſt motion to a ſound; that is the
Quill, this the Inſtrument of Muſic; that the Tongue, this the great Mouth . A
Shade is the moſt contemptible thing, and next to having no Being. So alſo the
Philoſophers ſhadow is a thing Black; blacker than Black as they call it, or viler
than a Weed, ( not in reſpect of itſelf, but in the opinion of men and the plenty of
it. ) What more uſeful than Fire? More precious than Water? More amiable than
Earth? Which yields flowers and all things that are lovely? What more delightful
than Air? Which if it once be obſtructed will make all things ceaſe to be pleaſant,
but becauſe in their Vaſt ſpheres they are expoſed to the common uſe of mankind
by a prepoſterous imagination, they are thought to be of no value. In like manner
both the common and Philoſophical ſhade are diſeſteemed. They who have lived
long in ſubterranean ſhades, loſe their eyeſight if they are brought ſuddenly to the
clear light of the Sun; ſo they who remain and work only in the Philoſophical
ſhade, and do not join the Sun to it are deprived of their judgement, which is the
guide of their mind, and ſo can bring nothing to effect.
When the Celeſtial Sun is elevated to the Height of Noon, the Heat is greater and
the Shadows leſs, ſo here when the heat is mirrored the ſhade is leſs, and likewiſe
on the contrary. We muſt therefore begin when the Sun from the Meridian call ſide
bends itſelf again to the Top of our Head in Capricorn, and the firſt operation even
to Aries will be finiſhed. There begins the work of Women even to Leo, and
afterwards Labour proceeds from Labour, till the Year as a Serpent takes hold of
the Tail with the Head; that is to ſay, is completed.
135
EMBLEMA XLVI.
Aquilæ duæ, una ab ortu, altera ab occaſu conveniunt.
[Two Eagles come together: One from the Eaſt, and the other from the Weſt.]
E PIGRAMMA XLVI.
Iupiter è DELPHIS aquilas miſiſſe gemellas
Fertur ad Eôas Occiduaſque plagas:
Dum medium explorare locum deſidereat Orbis,
(Fama ut babet) Delphos hæ rediêre ſimul.
Aſt illæ lapides bini sunt, unus ab ortu,
Alter ab occaſu, qui bene conveniunt.
136
D ISCOURSE XLVI.
Ciaro, in his book of the Nature of the Gods, declares the moſt Ancient Apollo to
be the Son of Vulcan, the Defender of Athens; which opinion is very true, when as
it ought to be, it is tranſferred to an Allegory. For Vulcan produces the
Philoſophical Sun which is Apollo. But the opinion of his being the ſon of Jupiter
has prevailed. For when Latona has twins in her womb, that is Apollo and Diana,
which ſhe had conceived by Jupiter, Juno being jealous, ſent Python, a Serpent of a
Vaſt magnitude, to perſecute and Vex her whilſt ſhe was with child. The miſerable
woman, after many and tedious wanderings, was at length carried by a ſhip into
the Iſland of Ortygia, to her ſiſter Aſteria, who governed theſe and that Iſland,
being almoſt wholly overflown with the Sea; yet afforded place for Latona whilſt
ſhe was in Travail; from whence it was called Delos or, “Manifeſt”, which before
was, [here a word in Greek] or “Not manifeſt.”
There ſhe brought forth her children: The firſt that came forth was Diana, and ſhe
did the office of a Midwife to her Mother, who laboured in the birth of her brother
Apollo. From whence it came to paſs women in Travail call upon her Deity by the
names of Diana, or Ilithyia, becauſe ſhe ſhows Light to Infants newly born, their
Eyes being opened. Apollo therefore being born and grown up, ſlew Python the
Tormentor of his Mother, with his Arrows. He likewiſe ſlew the Cyclops, becauſe
they made Thunder for Jupiter to deſtroy his Son, Aeſculapius: For it was with
Thunder that Jupiter ſtruck him down to Hell becauſe he had reſtored Hippolitas
to life, that had been torn in pieces by Horſes.
That theſe things are merely Chemical we have demonſtrated in many places. For
Latona, Cynthia, Apollo and Python are requiſites of this Art, which have ſuch
relations one to another, as have been declared before. For theſe ſame things, being
divulged in the Writings of the moſt Ancient Poets, as Orpheus, Linus, Muſeus
and Homer, they gave occaſion to the Ignorant to aſcribe religious worſhip and
Veneration to Apollo, and to erect Innumerable Temples to him, both in Europe
and Aſia. But that which was moſt celebrated was at Delos, where there was a Vaſt
number of Statues made of Solid gold and ſilver, of great weight and Artifice,
being there eſpoiled by many Kings and Princes, with other moſt precious gifts
[which had been] preſented by all ſorts of perſons out of their peculiar devotion.
Pauſanius relates that there was a Bronze Skeleton of admirable workmanſhip
hung up at the Top of the Temple by Hippocrates. There was likewiſe that famous
Tripos, which Mulciber made and gave to Pelops, that was afterwards conſecrated
to Apollo by Pelops, when he married Hippodamia, the Daughter of Onomeus,
King of Elis. This was erected in the middle of the Temple where Pythia, ſitting
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upon it, received the Inſpiration of the Devil breaking forth from a profound
Hollow, and being filled with it, propheſied and gave anſwers to thoſe who
enquired after the events of things to come. Delphos was ſeated near the foot of
Parnaſſus in Boetia; not far from the Temple was the Divining Fountain named
Caſſietis, which extinguiſhed ſuch burning Torches as were brought near it, but if
they were removed afar of, they ſuddenly took fire and were rekindled. The water
of the ſame fountain gave a power of propheſying to ſuch as drank of it, but then
their lives were ſhortened by it. There being a concourſe therefore from all parts of
Europe and Aſia to the Delphic Oracles, the Poets feigned that Parnaſſus was in
the middle of the Earth, and that they proved by an example of Jupiter, who had
made experiment of it by ſending forth two Eagles. But this thing not being
ſupported by the Credit of any Hiſtory it may not be repugnant to the Truth to
aſcribe it to Chemical matters, eſpecially in as Apollo, in all his Circumſtances and
his Original, has before been declared to be Chemical; although afterwards the
Devil confirmed the ſuperſtition of men, and under that Name gave forth
Propheſies.
The two Eagles are two Stones, one of which comes from the Eaſt, the other from
the Weſt, as the Philoſophers have many ways demonſtrated. Jupiter has ſent them
forth as his Enſign-bearers. The Eagle ſeems indeed to be the Friend of Apollo, or
Sol, becauſe ſhe proves her young ones by the Sunbeams, and diſowns thoſe as
illegitimate who cannot endure them. Its feathers are reputed not to putrefy,
although mixed with other things, and that they devour the feathers of other
birds, and that they eaſily admire of being gilded. It does not die of old Age or
ſickneſs, but of Hunger. For the upper part of his Beak grows ſo crooked that he
cannot feed himſelf, which having caſt off, he plunges himſelf three times in a
fountain, and is ſaid by theſe means to be reſtored to Youth again. Hence the
Pſalmiſt ſays, “Thy Youth ſhall be renewed like that of an Eagle.”
This of all birds is never affected with Thunder. It has war with the Dragon who
therefore hunts after its Eggs. All theſe endorſements of its Nature have given
occaſion to the Philoſophers in their Art, to extol the Eagle and liken their Stone to
it. There are innumerable Examples of this Kind in their Books, which at preſent
we Shall not Mention.
138
EMBLEMA XLVII.
Lupus ab Oriente & Canis ab Occidente uenientes ſe inuicem momorderunt.
[The Wolf coming from the Eaſt and the Dog coming from the Weſt
have bitten each other.]
E PIGRAMMA XLVII.
Hinc, ubi Sol oritur, Lupus aduenit, aſt ubi Ponto
Mergitur, inde canis, qui duo bile tument:
Hunc is, & hic illum, stimulate furore momordit,
Et rabidus rictu uiſus uterque fuit.
Sunt gemini hi lapides, gratis qui dantur ubique
Omnibus atque omni tempore, quos teneas.
139
D ISCOURSE XLVII.
The Philoſophers in many places make mention of two Stones that are freely given
to us, as Arnoldus, Iſaick, and others. Avicenna amongſt the reſt affirms that they
are thrown out in the Dung, neglected by the Vulgar, but if they be joined
together, they perfect the magiſtery. Some extol the Occidental Mercury, which
hath proffered itſelf before Gold, and overcome it. But the author of the Conſilium
Conjugi Solis and Luna, out of the Epiſtle of Ariſtotle, does beſt of all deſcribe the
two Stones, when he ſaith there are Two Stones, principals of this Art, white and
red, of wonderful nature. At the Setting of the Sun the white begins to appear
upon the ſurface of the Waters, hiding itſelf till Midnight, and afterwards deſcends
to the Bottom. But the red Operates otherwiſe, for it begins to ariſe upon the
Waters at the riſing of the Sun till noon, and afterwards deſcends to the bottom.
Theſe Stones therefore are the two, Sent by Jupiter out of Delphos, as we ſaid
before. Thoſe alſo are the Wolf and Dog coming from different parts of the Earth,
which Bite and worry one another, and both become Mad. As Rhaſis declares in
his Epiſtles, “Thoſe Stones are the moſt true Bezoar, which comes from the Eaſt
Indies, taken out of the Bellies of wild Beſts. The Weſt Indies yield another, but of
leſs Efficacy, and is called That of Peru, and taken out of Tame animals.” So, the
Eaſt affords a moſt fierce Wolf, the Weſt a Dog Familiar to man. That is: Sulphur
comes from the Eaſtern as Mercury does from the Weſtern Regions; of which the
one is ſoft and tractable, the Other is Choleric and fierce. As ſoon they meet they
fall upon one another. But the Dog, being of a remarkable Size, obtains the firſt
Victory by Proſtrating the wolf, and almoſt killing him. Then the wolf recovering
his ſtrength, Overthrows the Dog and never Suffers him to riſe again, but kills him
in the main. The Wolf receives ſuch wounds from the Dog, that are not leſs mortal
than thoſe he gave him, and ſo they are wounded to death by one another.
Roſinus to Euthicia ſays, concerning the Wolf, that, “He is a Stout Soldier,
Conqueror of Two, and of much Eſteem and moſt intenſe Strength, that can
perforate Bodies when he meets with them, and is white in Appearance, red by
Experiment, and is the male that took Luna to wife (which ſome men ſuppoſe to be
Gold of a moſt precious Connection, whoſe Congelation is never diſſolved, nor
footſteps or Imperfections ever defaced ) which God has beſtowed upon the holy
and Elect Philoſophers. You muſt know that Nature has taken an Equal as an
Enemy.”
And a little after he ſays, that, “Sulphur is moſt Strong, and fights againſt fire that
it contains and is contained; for a moſt precious Colour proceeds from the two
conjoined together, and that Sulphur, which is Naturally Volatile, can never
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afterwards fly away, becauſe the Soul hath Perforated it. And in like manner, the
Tincture of the ſoul hath perforated and Mixed with the Body, and the Body hath
contained the Soul and refrains the Natural flying of it. “
And then to one demanding which of the two Stones was Strongeſt, he anſwers,
“That ſtone which is No ſtone, is ſtronger than the Other Enemy. But if Red is
Stronger than that which hath Strengthened his Companions by his Fortitude, the
Oriental Wolf is therefore Stronger than the Occidental Dog, although he does not
obtain the Effect of his Victory but by falling Together with his Enemy.”
For the tingeing poiſon is produced from both. The Differences therefore between
the Wolf and the Dog is but ſmall, for a Maſtiff or dog may appear with the form
or kind of a Wolf, ſo as to ſeem to have been a wolf Originally, but to have become
tame running through many Generations. After the ſame manner, Sulphur and
Mercury differ but little from one another, becauſe That proceeds from This, and
This from That: Mercury indeed begat Sulphur, but Sulphur Purged Mercury, and
rendered it to itſelf.
The ſame Roſinus aſks theſe queſtions,
“Whence comes its Colour?”
And anſwers, “From its Moſt intenſe bitterneſs.”
”Whence comes its bitterneſs and Intention?”
Anſwer, “From the impurity of the Metal.”
”Is its red Colour never Suporeminent?”
He anſwers, “Yes.”
And again he aſks, “Is it never hotter than fire?”
Anſwer, “Fire in reſpect of it is as water in reſpect of fire.”
Again, Queſtion, “Is it not ſtronger then fire?”
He anſwers, “Not, when then do you aſſert it to be ſtronger than fire.”
He anſwers, “Becauſe Fires meeting together do deſtroy one another.”
It is therefore manifeſt that one is the food and aliment of the other. And ſo much
as the one Increaſes, the other Decreaſes, till that which increaſes, Prevails, and the
Dragon devours the Serpent.
In great Battles it Often happens that they who undergo the greateſt Slaughter,
win the field and Victory. So alſo, though the Dog lie Proſtrate, yet he was not ſo
Overcome at his death but that he could [not] hold his Enemy ſo faſt, that as the
other could not live without Him, ſo neither could he without the Other.
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EMBLEM XLVIII.
Rex ab aquis potatis morbum, à medicis curatus ſanitatem obtinet.
[The King obtains Sickneſs from drinking of the Waters;
from the Care of the Phyſitians, Health]
E PIGRAMMA XLVIII.
Diuitiis populiſque potens Rex fontis amauit,
Portarià ſeruis quas ſibi poſcit, aquas:
Has bibit & rebibit uenas mox inde repletus
Diſcolor à claris ſuſipitur medicis;
Aquibus ut purgatus erat ſudoribus, aluo,
Oreque, mox tincta est utraque mala roſis.
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D ISCOURSE XLVIII.
Xerxes, that moſt powerful King of Perſia, Leading his Army through dry and
uninhabited Countries, in the midſt of Extreme heat, being very thirſty did not
refuſe a draught of Muddy water Offered him by a Soldier, but drank moſt
plentifully and gave a Very large reward to him that brought it. And indeed if a
man at this time (as ſome of our Lateſt Hiſtorians affirm) ſhould travel through the
Domains of Perſia, he would ſeldom meet with fountains of Freſh Water, for their
Standing Waters are Brackiſh, and the Soil itſelf upon the ſurface has a very great
Saltineſs.
After the ſame manner, the King of the Philoſophers, being tormented with thirſt,
Commands his ſervants to bring him plenty of freſh Water, which being brought
him, he drinks till he is Satiated, as appears by the Allegory of Merlin: Divers
Phyſicians undertook the cure of the King that was Sick and diſcoloured. The
Egyptians adminiſtering their Medicine, ſtirred the Humours whilſt they were yet
crude; whereas Hippocrates ſays they muſt be concocted before they be purged,
unleſs [they] be ſtirring and fluxible, for then they muſt Immediately be Expelled,
leſt they make an Effort and fall upon the more Noble parts: Hereupon [are]
dangerous Symptoms as Happen to the King.
But the Phyſicians of Alexandria coming afterwards, and being Eſteemed more
Succeſſful in Chronic diſeaſes, reſtored the King to his former health.
(It is very well worthwhile to cure ſo great a King, who being made healthy,
Extends a Liberal hand, and a Serene aſpect to his phyſician. We have read how
many men's cures have been Nobly rewarded by ſeveral Kings, as that of
Demonides by Policrates; Tyrant of Samos with two talents Eraſiſtrati, who as
Pliny writes, was the diſciple of Chryſippus and the ſon of Ariſtotle's Daughter; as
likewiſe Jacop Coeterius, phyſician to Louis the 2nd, King of France, from whence
he received a Salary of four Thouſand crowns a Month; not to mention more
Modern inſtances.)
But the cure of this King is accompanied with a reward that is ſtill far greater. For
as Hermes and Geber in the Roſary, “He that can once complete this Art, if he
ſhould live a thouſand Thouſand Years, and Every day ſhould feed four Thouſand
men, he could not want.” And Senior confirms this by ſaying, “He that has this
Stone from which the Elixir is made, is ſo rich that he can, like the man that has
fire, give to whom he will, and when he will, and as much as he will, without his
own Danger, or the want of it.”
143
The Father of Democritus was ſo Rich that he gave a Feaſt to the Army of Xerxes;
and Pitheus, a man Exceedingly wealthy, offered the ſame prince that he would
pay his whole Army and find them proviſion for five Months, provided that the
Youngeſt of his five Sons, who was the Comfort of his Old age, might Stay at
home with him and not be forced to go into the King's Army. But the Barbarous,
Baſely rejecting his petition, commanded the Youth to be cut in two pieces and
impaled on Either ſide of the Highway through which the whole army was to
paſs, as Sabellicus relates in the Second Book of his EnneadsBut the wealth of theſe Men are Nothing to the Riches of this King, which are
without Number or Dimenſion. Being cured and freed from the waters all the
Kings and potentates of Other Regions have Honoured and feared him, and when
they would ſee any of his wonderful works, they put one ounce of Mercury, well
waſhed, in a Crucible, and caſt thereupon as it were, one grain of Millet ſeed of his
Nails or his Hair or his Blood, and blowing gently with coals, they let it cool with
them, and found ſuch a Stone as I know.
This is he of whom Count Bernard makes mention, that he can give to his ſix
courtiers as much of his Kingdom as he himſelf poſſeſſes, provided they wait till
he recovers his Youth, in the Bath, and be adorned with various Garments, to wit:
a Black breaſtplate, a White Shirt, and Purple Blood. For then he promiſes to give
ſome of his blood to Every One of them, and make them partakers of his riches.
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EMBLEMA XLIX.
Infans Philoſophicus tres agnoſcit patres, ut Orion.
[The Philoſophical Child acknowledges three fathers, juſt as Orion]
E PIGRAMMA XLIX.
Fabula narratur, Phœbus, Vulcanus & Hermes
Inpellem bubulam ſemina quod fuerint;
Treſque Patres fuerint magni simul ORIONIS:
Quin Sobolem Sophiæ ſic tripatrem esse ferunt:
SOL etenim primus, Vulcanus at eſſe ſecundus
Dicitur, huic præſtans tertius arte pater.
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D ISCOURSE XLIX.
Women that keep Company with many Men, Seldom conceive Living Children,
for Nature Very ſeldom admits of a Superfætation; Hence whatever Offſpring is
born, whether it be one or More individuals, they proceed from one Father and
Mother.
There is a Remarkable inſtance in Hiſtory, of Margaret the wife of Herman, Earl of
Henneberg, who in the Year 1276, bore 365 children, which were all Chriſtened;
the males by the name of John, the females yet of Elizabeth. All died and were
buried in the Church of Lauſden in Holland, about a mile from the Hague,
towards the ſea. And in the ſame place may ſtill be ſeen the Brazen baſin in which
they were baptiſed, with an inſcription of the whole ſtory. The reaſon given for it
is that the Counteſs, ſeeing a poor woman with twins in her arms, called her an
Adultreſs, as if it were impoſſible for more than one [child] to be conceived at one
birth from one man. But yet they Neceſſarily ſpring from Divers; whereupon the
poor woman, knowing herſelf clear from any guilt, made this imprecation: that the
Counteſs herſelf might at one time by one man conceive as many Children as there
were Days in the Year. This is a Miracle; but [yet] a Natural work, which
happened by the Divine Vengeance.
But in the Philoſophical work, that which is Otherwiſe contrary to Nature, is Eaſily
admitted under the Veil of an Allegory. For here One offſpring is ſaid to have
Three Fathers, and likewiſe ſo many Mothers. Hence Raymond, as cited by the
Roſary, ſays, “Our infant has two Fathers and two Mothers, and becauſe he with
his whole Subſtance is tenderly Nouriſhed in fire, therefore he never dies:” So
Dionyſus or Bacchus is called “Bimatur”: as having two Mothers; who when his
Mother was burnt, before the time of his Maturity was taken out of her belly and
ſowed into his Father's thigh, who thereupon became Father and Mother, too.
But theſe things are better declared in the Conception of Orion, who is ſaid to have
been produced by the ſeeds of Apollo, Vulcan and Mercury mixed together, and
preſerved in the hide of an Ox for ten Months. Now all this would not Only be
fabulous, but Monſtrous, unleſs the Secret of Nature, that is not Obvious to all
men, lay hid under it.
Lully in his Theoretica Teſtamenti, attributes as many and almoſt the ſame Fathers
to his Philoſophic birth, to wit: Sol who is Apollo or the Celeſtial Sun, the firſt
Author of this Generation, who by his unſpeakable Occult and Aſtral power,
works upon a Contained Matter known to the Philoſophers, as upon the Matrix of
a Woman, and in that produces a Son or Offſpring like himſelf, to whom
146
afterwards he will leaſe and reſign his Arms and Enſigns of Virtue as belonging to
him of by right of Inheritance, that is: the Faculty of Maturating things immature,
and the Energy of Tingeing and purging things Not tinged or purged. For
whatſoever Sol perfects in a Thouſand Year, his Son can perform in half an Hour.
Therefore that his Virtue may be 1000 times Stronger then that of Sol, his father
delivers him to Vulcan, and the Artiſt for Education, that his generous diſpoſition
may be improved and multiplied in Strength by their Means and Aſſiſtance. For it
is Manifeſt to be very Advantageous to be accuſtomed to a thing from [the time of]
a child. So Achilles, Jaſon, and Hercules were for the ſame intent committed to
Chiron to be inſtructed. For Milo the Crotonian, who carried a Calf when he was a
boy, by cuſtom came to be able to carry an Ox when he grew to be a Man.
Therefore, tis not without reaſon that Vulcan and the Artiſt are ſaid to be the
Fathers of this Child, as well as Sol. For as he was the cauſe of his Being at firſt, ſo
theſe Make him ſuch as he is and ſo great as he appears to be. No Equivalent
Reward can be made to Maſters for Inſtitution, no more than to parents for
Generation. Theſe diſpoſe the Body; they the Mind. And ſo no leſs recompenſe is
due to one than to the Other of them.
In the production of Orion, Mercury contributes matter; Apollo the form; and
Vulcan the Heat or Efficient cauſe. And ſo it is likewiſe neceſſary in the Philoſophic
work that theſe Three Fathers ſhould ſeem to Conſpire together for the Birth of one
offſpring, that is to be the Darling of the Philoſophers.
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EMBLEMA L.
Draco mulierem, & hæc illum interimit, ſimulque ſanguine perfunduntur.
[The Dragon kills the woman, and ſhe kills it, & togther they bathe in the blood]
E PIGRAMMA L.
Alta uenenoso fodiatur tumba Draconi,
Cui mulier nexu ſit bene uncta ſuo:
Ille maritalis dum carpit gaudia lecti,
Hæc moritur cum qua sit Draco tectus humo.
Illius hinc corpus morti datur, atque cruore
Tingitur: Hæc operis ſemita ueratui est
148
D ISCOURSE L.
The Manſion of Dragons is in Caverns of the Earth; but of Men upon the Earth, in
the Immediate Air; which two Elements are contrary and yet are appointed by the
Philoſopher to be joined together, that one may act upon the Other. But by the
Woman, Others underſtand the Eagle, as Baſil in his Second Key, for tis not
convenient ( ſays he ) for an Eagle to place her neſt upon the Alps, becauſe her
Young ones would die by the coldneſs of the Snow upon the top of the Mountains,
but if you add to the Eagle a cold Dragon, that hath a long time had his Habitation
in the rocks, and is crept out of the caverns of the Earth, and put them both into an
infernal Cell, then will Pluto blow, and by his laſt, draw a Fiery Volatile Spirit
from the cold Dragon, which with its great Heat will burn the Eagle's Feathers and
Excite a Sudorifick Bath, as will melt the Snow upon the top of the Mountains, and
turn it into Water, from whence a Mineral Bath may be well prepared, to
contribute health and Fortune to the King.
This reward is wonderful, that a cold Dragon ſhould Yield a fiery Spirit, yet
Experience declares it to be true: in Burnt Serpents that ſend forth a venomous
flame, poiſoning thoſe that ſtand by it. Nor is it without reaſon that preſervers of
the Chemical treaſures ſhould be called “Flaming Dragonſ”; and “Keepers of the
Golden Fleece”; [of] “The Garden of the Heſperideſ”; and that of Cadmus and
others.
For this Dragon lives in Strait places of Subterranean Rocks, which you muſt take
[of or from] there, and join it to the Eagle, or Woman to her in her grave, or to the
Other ( if you would rather have it ſo ) in her neſt. For tis the Nature of the Dragon
ſometimes to lie in wait for the Eagle's Eggs, and wage Mortal war with the Eagle.
There are Some Greek writers that Report that in times paſt, a Dragon fell in love
with a Maid, and lay with her. What wonder then if the Philoſophers would have
their Dragon Shut up in the ſame cavern with the woman? Greverus joins Red and
Black Dragons together in the Deep gulf of the mountains, and burns them with
fire, and the black ones periſhing he ſaith, " The Keeper of the mountain Searcheth
for them everywhere, and he brings them to the Mountain. " Merlin, in his Viſion,
if it be not Suppoſitious, makes Mention of a White and Red Dragon. Theſe
Dragons, whatſoever they be, whether one be a Woman, or female Dragon, do act
Mutually until they both die, and Emit blood from their wounds wherewith they
are both Embued.
But hereby the Dragon is underſtood [to be] the Element of Earth and Fire; and by
the Woman thoſe of Air and Water. Whence the Clangor Buccinæ ſaith, “The
Dragon is the Matter remaining in the Bottom, after the water is diſtilled from it.”
149
And according to Hermes, “The water of the Air, being between Heaven and
Earth, is the Life of Every thing, for that water diſſolves a body into a Spirit, and
makes a live thing of a dead thing, and conſtitutes Marriage between Man and
Woman, for it makes the whole Benefit of the Art.” And of the Earth he ſays thus,
“And moreover, underſtand that the particular earth which we tread upon is not
the true Element: Yea, it is Elemented from its true fifth Element. Nor doth the
fifth Elemental Subſtance recede from its Elemented Body from which the Earth is
formed.” And a little after, “But the Virgin and true Element, which Fire cannot
burn, is in the Center of the earth. This is the Dragon whereof we ſpeak,
inſinuating itſelf, even into the Center of the earth, where the heat being great, it
conceives within itſelf a Flaming heat, wherewith it burns the woman or Eagle.”
But the woman or Eagle is an airy water, which ſome call the white or Celeſtial
Eagle, and Endeavour to make it the Common Mercury or Sublimed Salt, for there
Men that feign themſelves as Quick Sighted as Lineus, [are] but indeed blind in
this Art. But Count Bernard ſays in his Epiſtle, “Verily I ſay unto You, that No
water will diſſolve a Metallic Species by Natural reduction, but that which
continues with it in matter and form, and which the Metals themſelves can
recongeal, and a little after. Nor doth that water pertain to bodies in Solutions
which doth not remain with them in congelation.” And not far after, “Verily I ſay
unto you, that the Oil which Naturally incerates and joins Natures together, and
Naturally introduces the Medicine into Other bodies that are to be tinged, is not
compounded of any Other Extraneous thing, but only of the Bowels of the Body
that is to be diſſolved.”
The Eagle therefore and the Woman, as likewiſe the Dragon with almoſt all the
Severals of the whole Art, are Underſtood by theſe precepts; which by opening the
Boſom of Nature We have perhaps ſo far Explained and declared to the Sons of
Learning, that ſo Glory might be given to God.
AMEN.
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